When she was young, Sheila Aadland couldnt understand why her sister loved gardening so much. Picking up a shovel and getting her hands dirty were the last things Aadland wanted to do.

That changed when she became the mother of two active boys. Gardening became her at-home project while her sons were at play. The kids were outside on the swings, and I had something to do, she said.

That urge to do something culminated in the creation of a garden in a St. Bonifacius backyard that stops first-time visitors in their tracks. Stretching 200 feet along a hillside, the garden is a lush retreat, with a waterfall that tumbles under a bridge through the garden toward a little pond.

The garden is a passion and an anchor for a family that until 1998 was accustomed to moving every few years. Sheila, a physical trainer, and her husband, David, a social worker, had built and sold three houses before they moved to St. Bonifacius. Their practice was to live in a new home, do the finishing work and landscaping themselves and then sell and move on to the next project. Then, attracted by the rolling hills around St. Bonifacius, they found the site for their long-term dream home and garden.

I never thought wed still be here after 21 years, Sheila said. But now I cant imagine leaving.

The St. Bonifacius lot was unusual from the start. Located on a cul-de-sac and naked of trees but covered in weeds, the property was shaped like a pie slice, narrow at the street and widening to a hilly backyard. David had always wanted a pond or water feature, his wife said, and this was the first lot where that made sense.

We took to it right away we loved how it banked up at the back, Sheila said.

Months of planning

The house was built in 1998. Sheila spent the next winter planning, studying books on garden design and plotting out where edging, the waterfall and decks at the back of the house would go. In the spring, even before sod was laid, the Aadlands hauled in 30 yards of wood mulch and spread it where the gardens would go.

Privet, lilacs, amur maples, arborvitae and other evergreens were planted to screen in the backyard and provide a background for the garden. I am the queen of screen! Sheila joked. As more homes were built around them, construction crews that unearthed boulders were happy to let her and the boys load their wheelbarrow and carry the rocks away.

Sheila used the rocks to edge the stream that tumbled down the hill and to add some hardscape to the new garden. When she planted, the plants were small so tiny that in the first year or two, some visitors burst out laughing when they saw a vast sea of mulch pocked by petite shrubs and perennials.

But Sheila had done her homework and knew how perennials multiplied and shrubs grew. The garden soon filled in.

Her plan was to create a garden that was balanced on either side of the stream, so that the plantings mirrored each other. Arborvitae, with their yearlong evergreen interest, provide background in some areas and accents in others. The bright green, fine-textured Holmstrup arborvitae is a screen, while two flashy Sunkist, with layered foliage that turns lemon and chartreuse, draw the eye on both sides of the garden. Smaller evergreens in different colors make the garden interesting even in winter. A favorite is the hardy and slow-growing birds nest spruce.

They are so beautiful with their horizontal branching, and I love the texture, Sheila said. The bunnies like to hang out there.

Tall plants like miscanthus grasses, hydrangeas, heliopsis and liatris are featured near the top of the slope, leading down to shorter perennials like sedums, coral bells and bergenia. Sheila said she adores a tough coral bells called Obsidian, with dark plum leaves that are almost black. The plants have thrived despite being near rock in full sun. But her favorite perennial in a garden that emphasizes texture and yearlong interest is bergenia, a decidedly unfashionable plant whose virtues many gardeners ignore. One of the common names for bergenia is pigsqueak, for the sound the leathery leaves make when rubbed together.

Sheila bought her first bergenia at a farmers market for $1.50. Now she has two masses of the perennial that are 3 or 4 feet across. The plants large, shiny green leaves and toughness delight her.

Theyre like an evergreen; as the snow is melting, theyre there, she said. Theyre such a great rock garden plant, just amazing. The leaves are chartreuse, sometimes with pink or purple. It looks like one big salad out there. And when the flowers come up, its like, whoa! What a surprise!

Pots of color

To ensure season-long color in the summer garden, Sheila puts pots of geraniums and coleus amid the evergreens and shrubs. I love the texture and color of coleus, she said. When the bunnies come and eat all the flowers, what can you do? I have a system; plants with texture and leaves are still there.

As the years have passed, nature has foiled her goal of having a garden that mirrors itself. Parts of the garden have grown shadier, and one side now flowers before the other. But Sheila said she appreciates that, because it extends the bloom time of perennials.

I think I love the garden because it evolves, it grows, and its renewal, she said. Its beauty and nature, and it provides habitat for birds and mice and squirrels and rabbits. Its life. Its where we raised our kids.

Both boys are adults now, and one grew up to be a professional organic gardener who has worked at farms around the world. A few years ago, the Aadlands converted one of their decks into a sunroom that overlooks the garden so it can be enjoyed year-round.

Sheila expects the garden to continue to be a focus as she and David, who built all the decks and patios and did much of the heavy work in the yard, approach retirement.

This is where we have our conversation, she said. It is the center of our lives.

Mary Jane Smetanka is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer, a Master Gardener and a Minnesota Tree Care Advisor.

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Twin Cities garden is lush backyard oasis of 'beauty and nature' - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Tadhg MacCarthaigh 54%

Randal g 46%

KIERAN McCARTHY REPORTS

ON Sunday morning, only hours after the final whistle had sounded, Sean Collins was back out working on Tadhg MacCarthaighs field of dreams.

He wasnt resting on his laurels. The grass needed to be cut and Collins was up early to get the job done and dedication like this is one of the reasons why the clubs top-class sod at Aughaville was crowned Pitch Perfect champion last weekend.

Sean Collins has been a constant for the last 30 years, he has helped keep the pitch looking as good as it is, club chairman Kieran Daly said.

We have a lot of work done on the pitch over the years, the likes of Sean and all these fellas have kept it in good shape, so winning this is a great reward for them and all their hard work.

Out of 32 GAA clubs from both the Carbery and Beara divisions, only two were left standing in last Saturdays Pitch Perfect final Tadhg MacCarthaighs Aughaville and Randal gs impressive Ballinacarriga pitch.

This was always going to an epic decider to a competition (run on Twitter polls) that entertained for the past few weeks and we werent disappointed.

Both clubs impressed en route to the last four, and what was noticeable was Tadhg MacCarthaighs late surge in their quarter-final win against St Oliver Plunketts and also the semi-final against Bere Island. They were the comeback kings of Pitch Perfect so Randals would have known they needed to hold a healthy lead heading into the early hours.

Just after the halfway mark in the final, Randals were in command, leading 57% to 43%, but within hours it was level pegging, and all to play for as we headed in the business end and the final few hours of this battle.

After Randal g got Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae onside, Tadhg MacCarthaigh responded with an endorsement from Pope Francis (not the real Pope, granted), as both clubs pulled out all the stops to get the upper-hand.

By the end, and at the 2am cut-off point on Sunday morning, it was Tadhg MacCarthaigh that came out on top, winning 54% to 46% after an incredible 4,109 votes were cast.

The winning pitch at Aughaville had hit all the right notes to win this Pitch Perfect final that had a bit of everything.

It was the players that drove this on, in fairness to them, club chairman Kieran Daly explained.

The likes of Mark ODriscoll, even though he is in Australia, was on the case, Colm ODriscoll was on to some fella in South Africa there wasnt a country that wasnt touched over the last few weeks!

It was great to see some of our ex-players get on board too, fellas in New York and London, and the community response was brilliant as well.

Daly himself joined Twitter last week so he could vote in the competition, and he heard similar stories all over the parish, as they came together to get Tadhg MacCarthaigh over the line.

Even Sean Collins was set up with a Twitter account, Daly laughed, and the further we progressed in the competition, the more people got behind us.

Its great recognition for everyone who has helped keep the pitch in good shape. Two years ago when we had the drought, we watered the pitch every couple of nights there was Liam ODriscoll, Michel ODonovan, Eoin Murphy, different fellas with a tractor and water tank.

We only have the one pitch so we have to mind it. In fairness, any time we ask any locals to help out, they do.

And while Tadhg MacCarthaighs Aughaville sod got the thumbs up in Pitch Perfect, Kieran Daly was keen to point out that there are plenty of excellent pitches in West Cork.

Like every other club, we have some very good people and we are lucky to have them, Daly said.

A lot of clubs invest money in their pitches, clubs could be spending anywhere between 3,000 and 10,000 a year to keep their pitches in good shape. You have to spend that money to keep the surface good, especially in recent seasons with more traffic and matches on the pitch.

Of all the pitches in West Cork, theres one that stands out for Daly.

We played in Bantrys new pitch and I think that when players get the chance to play on it, and more people see how good it is, everyone will realise its a savage pitch.

But, for now, Tadhg MacCarthaighs Aughaville has been chosen as West Corks best GAA pitch after an exciting few weeks that saw over 27,500 votes cast and all the great pitches in Carbery and Beara rightly lauded.

Lets hope its not the only West Cork final we have this year.

Subscribe to the Southern Star'sYouTube channel, like us onFacebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news and sport from West Cork.

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Tadhg MacCarthaigh's field of dreams hits all the right notes to win Pitch Perfect - Southern Star Newspaper

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New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association represents the entire Green Industry in New Jersey including landscape contractors, landscape architects, sod growers, nurseries, growers, garden centers, horticulturists, floricultureand the industries that supply them.

Immediate NJLCA events are postponed until further notice. The safety of our industry is our top priority. Updates will be available here or you can reach us at 201-703-3600.

For more information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from our partners at Association Master Trust, click here.

As COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continues to spread rapidly around the world and throughout the United States, concern for member health and safety are foremost in our minds.... keep reading

Design Processes, Recruiting Employees, Snow and Ice Lawsuits, Plant and Project Warranties and more... keep reading

In this episode, Phil Harwood of GrowtheBench.com discusses the best ways to overcome the labor shortage.... keep reading

In this episode, Ramblin' Jackson Jostes discusses digital marketing tactics for getting qualified leads.... keep reading

The 2019 NJLCA/IANJ Golf Challenge was a great success!... keep reading

In this episode, Michael Reed of Synatek discusses reduced risk and low impact pesticides, including alternatives to the controversial RoundUp.... keep reading

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DeForest residents will now need a sticker for entry into the villages yard waste collection site, located at 610 N. Stevenson Street. The village board approved the decision at its March 17 meeting.

Its a decision that will better regulate the site to village residents only.

The sticker, which will need to be renewed every three years, can be placed in the corner of the vehicles windshield. Stickers are available for single-family residences, duplexes and up to a four-plex. Theres a maximum of two stickers per single household.

Residents can apply for stickers at Village Hall or on its website, then a sticker can be mailed to the household or available for pickup at Village Hall. With the current health concerns, the village is advising residents to conduct business via the website, if available to do so.

With the boards approval, it will now be illegal to use the yard waste site without a sticker. However, Public Works Project Coordinator Greg Hall noted in a memo that as the year gets started, the village will be lenient in the first few months as residents learn that a sticker will be needed for the site. Hall said that the village will also notify its residents on social media and through email.

Hall said that the sticker will reduce the costs associated with non-resident dumping and alleviate the pressure of enforcing it. Any person violating the restriction in the future will be subject to forfeiture and not be allowed to use the waste site.

The yard waste site will open April 1, as the village does not have current health concerns about doing so. It was noted that people dont usually come in large groups and dont generally touch a lot of village equipment.

The operating hours are 5-7 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, with additional 8-10 a.m. hours on Tuesday. The site is also open Saturdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and is closed Fridays and Sundays. The schedule is subject to change.

Accepted items are brush, branches, sticks, twigs, grass clippings, sod, dirt, leaves, garden waste, flowers, pine cones and pine needles. Residents are asked to separate grass clippings and leaves from other brush for placement at the site. No garbage is allowed. Firewood, by paid permit, and wood chips are available to residents.

Also at the meeting, the board passed a resolution to vacate and discontinue a portion of Bear Tree Parkway, Williamsburg Way and a portion of Pederson Crossig Boulevard. It was part of the Hooper development project and the resolution vacates those roads so new roads can be platted in replacement. A public hearing is scheduled during the May 5 board meeting.

Board approves to road repairs, grant process for Yankee Conservancy Basin

At the March 17 meeting, the village board approved the bid from Scott Construction, Inc. a company based in the Wisconsin Dells area to seal chips and fill cracks on several of the roads. The total bid was for $165,653.50. Chip sealing would cost $105,066.50 and the crack filing would cost ($60,587).

It is part of the regular street maintenance to prevent water intrusion and prolong the life of the asphalt. A road can typically be chip-sealed two times during the asphalts life span.

The areas identified for chip sealing include Yorktown Road (from Vinburn to Rumley); Shooting Star; Rumley Run; Star Gazer (from Rumley to the transition); Apple Blossom; Linde Street; Valeria Drive; Sunset Drive; Campbells Street; Clover Lane; Constitution Lane (Yorktown Road to transition); Eaglewatch Drive; Eagle Nest Lane; and Overlook Terrace.

The areas identified for crack filling include: Yorktown Road (Vinburn to Rumley); Valeria Drive; Campbell Hill Court; Regal Court; Natchez Court; Schuykill Court; Cumberland Court; Lincoln Green Court; Lincoln Green Road; Little Potato Way; North Towne Road; Liberty Drive; Shooting Star; Apple Blossom; Rumley Run; Star Gazer; Williamsburg Way; and Linde Street with large cracks on clover Lane; Overlook Terrace; Eaglewatch Drive and trails Southbound Drive to Mack Lane, the south side of Innovation Drive and a few spots on Upper Yahara River Trail.

The board also approved the submission of a state grant regarding the Municipal Flood Control Grant Project for the Yankee Conservancy detention basin.

The proposed project would cost an estimated $1.5 million with Dane County willing to commit $500,000 to the project with $500,000 matching funds through the Urban Water Quality grant program. Additional funding may be available through Yahara WINS. The village board indicated it would fund up to $250,000 with an additional $220,000 needing to be secured.

Director of Public Services Kelli Bialkowski said, We need to find $220,000 or modify the project. She went on to say that just submitting for the grant is not committing (the village) to (the project).

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Sticker needed for use of yard waste collection site - HNGnews.com

How many times in your life have you said, "If only I had time for ... " Perhaps you regret many things you couldnt do the carpentry project or the book you intended to write or the gardening because of your job and duties and social commitments?

I have often said aloud: "If I could just stop time ... " Well, some of you may be feeling time has practically stopped, and this is the year you do have time for gardening.

These suggestions are especially for people who havent done much gardening or yard work before new homeowners or renters who are just learning to take care of a yard.

Its also for people who might have hired others to do the work during a busy time of life, but things have changed now its DIY time.

Some folks may be pinch-hitting, indoors and out, for someone in health care or doing other essential services. Whoever you are, there are some things everybody with a yard ought to know:

First two hints for your and the yards health:

Do not walk on wet lawn or soil. Your feet or equipment harm turf grass and other plant roots, and make the soil compacted so plants cannot thrive. When the soil is crumbly in your hand and you cant make a mud cake, then its time to get out of there.

Do prepare for a workout. This is no time for weekend warriors to be seeking physical therapy. Warm up your muscles before you do garden work. Stretch. Its easy to underestimate what gardening is really like: It looks so pretty.

Actually yard and garden work can be more strenuous than a gym workout, even if you could join your favorite exercise class.

What the yard wants

1. Pick up sticks: Pile them somewhere on your property. Even if you are not allowed to build a compost pile using food waste, you can make a pile of branches, twigs, leaves and cut grass. Eventually the pile of organic matter will decompose and form a fine soil amendment.

2. Do the weeding: Stroll your property and try to identify the weeds. Show pictures to other gardeners online, or do research to figure out whats a weed or a perennial ground cover or desirable plant. In case of an unknown plant, a good trick is to put it in a pot to grow until it reveals itself.

Once you are clear which are weeds, dig or pull them up. If they have deep roots (dandelions) dig straight down and dont leave pieces behind or they will regrow. No chemicals needed. Its another workout.

3. Fix weak lawn patches: If you see a thinning or bald patch of lawn, the DIY method would be to scratch up the area with a rake, add some good compost or garden soil (up to one-half-inch thick), and spread some grass seed that is suitable for the site. Dont hesitate to call a lawn care professional with questions about seeding, sod or soil.

Also consider: If your lawn is more than you need, or there are areas where its never pleasing, replace it with native flowering plants or ground covers that will delight many birds and beneficial insects.

4. Do corrective pruning: Pruning is one of the earliest spring tasks if you do it correctly.

If you are new to this, do not attack a poor shrub with your hedge clippers or electric saw to make it shorter. Shearing or topping most plants (haircut style) is simply bad pruning.

Instead, first look at your landscape shrubs and small trees for broken or dead branches. Remove them using hand pruners, loppers or a small pruning saw. Always make the cuts just above (outside) another branch or a node where a new branch can grow. Choose a branch or node that points outward, where you would like a branch to be.

If you see an odd, disproportionate shoot or branch, also cut if off. But dont get carried away with pruning. Get a good book or online instructions from International Society of Arboriculture, Davey Tree, or other arboriculture sources. For large trees, contact an arborist.

What flower beds want

In addition to picking up sticks and weeding (once the soil has dried), early spring is the time for first steps:

1. Cut back dead perennial debris: It is better to stay out of a perennial garden or a mixed border if you dont know whats in there, as you can damage the crowns of many plants that show up much later in spring.

But if you see stems and leaves from last season, cut or rake them out. Be gentle around emerging plants. Hellebores the first perennials to flower are probably blooming already, so do cut away any of the old, raggedy leaves from last season.

2. Dont uncover most perennials: Generally it is too soon to remove the mulch thats protecting most plants. Leave them covered, since wide temperature fluctuations can be expected. Plants prefer to wake up gradually.

3. Help the flowering bulbs: If you see patches of crocuses or daffodils trying to poke through the mulch or ground covers, pull back whatever is smothering them. They can handle the cold and deserve to have their moments in the sun, literally.

If you have tulips, consider protecting them with chicken wire or netting, if deer or rabbits are likely to visit. Repellent sprays may work, too.

Time to do these things is a gift, even if it may be for reasons we would not have chosen. For those who are new to landscape and garden care, this could be your time to take charge of your own place. Enjoy the process.

Sally Cunningham is a garden writer, lecturer and consultant. She and Jim Charlier are the authors of Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs (St. Lynns Press, $24.95).

Take a look at another recent column fromSally Cunningham:

Relieve stress in your garden, as pressures from pandemic increase

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The gift of time in the garden, given the pandemic - Buffalo News

Even an introvert like moi was getting stir-crazy at home, where my husband, Lee, and I are taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously. People who can choose to follow the CDCs preventative guidelines and dont are invasive weeds in our national garden.

My Church of Dirt and Flowers has always been a place of peace for me. So when the temperature recently reached 40 degrees, I realized I could stay healthy and safe working outside in a patch of dirt Id nearly forgotten. Time to carpe the diem. Carrying a spade, weed bucket and hand trowel, I marched out to face the Garden of Dread, a curbside swath on the east side of our backyard past the gate, with a flowering quince at one end and a bed of wild roses at the other. In the unkempt area between them, tall knots of quackgrass were trying to smother the struggling hollyhocks and irises.

I love taking care of the flower garden in our front yard, and I watch for shagginess in the narrow beds of sweet peas, honeysuckle, hollyhocks and roses that grow along our fence lines. But its easy to ignore the Garden of Dread lurking behind a small thicket of lilac trees. Those lilacs became our toddler granddaughters secret hideout during the year that Lee and I took care of her.

Sammy found magic among the lilacs low-growing limbs. Many mornings I stood guard while she scrambled over the branches and explored their cozy shelters. Our fairy child, I thought, with her red-gold hair and polka-dot boots. We turned a tangle of leafy branches into the hideouts front door, which Sammy and I decorated, using imaginary paint and twigs as our brushes. She frowned when I suggested red for the door, with happy yellow trim. Everything pink, she said in a voice as stern as a 2-year-old charmers can be.

We needed the Garden of Dread then, because its quackgrass and roses formed a scratchy, thorny boundary between Sammys hideout and the street. From her first trip to the lilac grove, her grandpa and I taught her never to go farther than the edge of the tall grass. Our weekdays with Sammy ended when she started preschool, but we left the garden untouched for another year. It became even more dreadful as the roots of the quackgrass grew deeper and more defiant. Soon it had become a jungle for Benjamin BadKitten, the tiger king of B Street, useful as camouflage when BBK flattened himself into a rotund pancake to spy on sinister-looking cats or dogs.

Last week I made a good start on taking down Bens espionage headquarters, digging down to those long root ends with as much torque as my brittle knees permitted. After every few shovelfuls, I knelt, used the trowel to bang off loose sod and then carefully threaded out the roots by hand. After four hours, during which every muscle below my waist moaned in protest, I had cleared a fine patch. Ill have another go at the rest of the roots soon, to help me remember that the Garden of Dread is only a season in natures cycle of renewal and hope.

Sydney Craft Rozen recently discovered that, of more than 7,500 tomato varieties in the world, five out of the nine plant varieties she wanted to grow were already sold out. This is why she never buys lottery tickets. Email her at scraftroze@aol.com

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Feeling healthy and safe outside in the Garden of Dread - Moscow-Pullman Daily News

What if I were to tell you that the ancient royal capital of Connacht still exists today, with many of its ceremonial and ritualistic buildings still visible?

Rathcroghan in Co Roscommon is one of the most important prehistoric and early medieval landscapes in all of Ireland, according to Daniel Curley, manager of the visitors centre in the local village of Tulsk. Most archaeologists would agree that the 240 ancient monuments in the area make up an archaeological landscape on a par with Newgrange or Tara.

Yet Rathcroghan is barely known to most of us. Why?

While ground-breaking research and excavation were being conducted on the great sites of Co Meath from the 1960s onwards, Rathcroghan was largely forgotten until relatively recently, Curley explains. Anything west of the Shannon tends to get ignored, particularly in Roscommon and east Galway.

The story of how the local community has begun to lure visitors to this neglected region of linear earthworks, burial mounds, ringforts, field boundaries, temple sites, and even a ritual gate to the otherworld is remarkable.

This land was, and still is, some of the most fertile territory west of the Shannon, says Curley, and so over five millennia was able to attract and sustain populations better than anywhere else in Connacht. Locals knew the monuments in their fields were potentially the same ones described in the great tales of the Ulster Cycle about Queen Maeve, who had her royal seat at Rathcroghan, and of the great cattle-raid of Cooley, which began here.

The traditional farming methods practised here meant the remains have been remarkably well preserved, so you can actually see in the landscape scenes described in these Iron Age tales, says Curley.

In 1999 the local community built a visitor centre to share the rich lore of their area, but it was a forlorn-looking place akin to a GAA changing room, offering little reason for people travelling along the N5 to stop. This was how things remained until about five years ago, when people started taking notice of Rathcroghan and murmurings began to spread about a new lost citadel at the sacred centre of Connacht.

We received some funding to renovate the information displays at the centre, says Curley. This chance to retell the story in our own words, based on our own research and our interpretation of the latest scientific investigations was like a jolt of adrenalin.

The tiny team of locals became newly enraptured by the wonder of the place, spurred on to find more funding to renovate the exterior of the building, and the cafe and shop. Each improvement led to more tourists coming through the doors, says Curley, and the impact was dramatic: between 2015 and 2019 visitor numbers rose from 9,000 to 22,000.

For a tourist site in an unprepossessing patch of mid-Roscommon to experience such growth without any significant support from Filte Ireland or the OPW, or any outside agency, was verging on miraculous. Most of it was due to word of mouth, and a continuous stream of ecstatic reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, where visitors who just happened to wander into the centre and sign up for a tour would write glowing accounts of discovering a lost archaeological world, brought vibrantly to life by the passion and intensity of Curley and his tour guiding colleagues, Elaine Conroy and Mike McCarthy.

Rathcroghan is an extraordinary site, once a skilful guide has pointed out the scores of ancient remains that lie all around, mostly now covered in a layer of earth and sod. Geophysical investigations of the most prominent earthwork, Rathcroghan Mound (known locally as Queen Maeves fort), reveal broad parade ramps and enclosures where ceremonial processions of dignitaries, high priests and perhaps even sacred animals may have been led in great public rituals of kingship or burial or nature worship.

Southwest of it is what was once known as a hell-mouth, or an entrance to the otherworld, called Oweynagat Cave. Its a small hole in a field at the bottom of a grassy lane that youd never notice unless it was pointed out. It looks like a foxs den until you crawl inside and see the carved ogham stone hidden above you. A long tunnel leads into an enormous limestone fissure beneath the earth. References in lore suggest it may have been a chamber of transformation, or a place of connection to the divine.

With Rathcroghan set to become an increasingly popular tourist site, the community has turned their attention to making the region more sustainable for themselves. Until now the archaeology had largely been a burden.

The old remains have been a massive negative for farmers here, explains Curley. It stops them from cutting silage, from ploughing and from modernising their farms. Its actually removing them from the landscape because for decades they havent been able to get planning permission. The local primary school closed down because there were no young people left.

While interest in taking up farming is low enough in Ireland, here it has become chronic as young farmers see no chance of modernising due to the archaeological constraints. The only option seemed to be to sell the land off to some agricultural conglomerate who would have no connection with the areas ancient lore. The team behind the visitor centre realised something had to be done, and managed to secure the first grant given by the European Innovation Partnership to an archaeological rather than a natural landscape. They now have 1 million to be spent over five years to help farmers shift to a more suitable and sustainable type of farming.

Farmers will spearhead the process, taking minor steps like fencing off a ringfort that is being eroded by cattle, or more elaborate transformations, such as replacing modern breeds of heavy European cattle with the smaller native breeds referred to in ancient historical and mythological tales of cattle raids in the area. A next step could be to replace the monocrop of modern Italian rye grass with a native meadow of biodiverse grasses and herbs, as was here for eons.

One farmer has sought funding to re-establish a virtually extinct species of Roscommon sheep famous in the area for centuries, while another wants to establish a traditional fruit orchard, says Curley. Others are investigating the potential of native woodland.

Rathcroghan could become not just a major archaeological tourism site, but also a unique food-producing region cultivating meat, vegetables, cheese, nuts and fruit in similar ways to our ancient ancestors. Ambitiously, it could even become the first area in Ireland with its own EU-recognised designation as a re-established Iron Age farming landscape, producing unique products in a biodiverse ecological sanctuary.

It will take time for farmers to abandon slurry tanks and chemical sprays, and shift to the mindset and practises of their forbearers who tended this land for millennia, but the fact that the current farming model cannot work for their children encourages at least some of them to take the leap.

Its about thinking outside the box, says Curley, getting people to imagine a different future. In truth, we can only offer relatively small financial assistance to farmers over the five years, but we can provide training too, in skills like working with traditional animal breeds, stone wall construction, etc. Im certainly not promising its going to be easy, but the opportunities to create something truly world class here in Roscommon is palpable. It just requires us working together.

Weve got this far as a community, whos going to stop us now? r

athcroghan.ie

Originally posted here:
It's one of Ireland's most important prehistoric sites, but you may not have heard of it - The Irish Times

We may be in the thick of winter, but here's a warm and welcoming thought: It won't be long before the flowers begin budding, trees start blooming, and the grass goes into a green-up mode.

While that can be a comforting notion, it should also be cause for consideration: Will your yard be ready for the forthcoming growing season? The experts agree that it's best to ramp up plans for needed gardening and landscaping maintenance soon to ensure a healthy and attractive exterior property.

"Fall and winter come with a lot of problems that have to be cleaned up so that you can properly prepare your outdoor spaces for springtime," says Rhianna Miller, lawn and garden designer and improvement expert with Rubber Mulch in Lakewood, New Jersey. "It's important to plan this spring maintenance well in advance, while the weather is still cool and dry. That way, you can finish up well before the spring rains come through, as wet weather makes cleanup and outdoor maintenance difficult."

Angie Hicks, the co-founder of Indianapolis-based Angie's List, echoes these recommendations.

"Early spring is a very unpredictable time of year where weather swings make conditions look ideal one day and ruinous the next. But preparing early for these conditions will set your lawn and grounds up for success throughout the growing season," Hicks says.

To give your yard the best chance for springtime triumph, follow these tips once the ground thaws and temperatures start consistently rising:

Take a walk around your property.

"Identify trees and shrubs impacted by winter, and prune as needed to prevent further damage," suggests Bob Mann, lawn and landscape expert with the National Association of Landscape Professionals in Fairfax, Virginia. Also, "pick up any branches, leaves and debris that may have fallen during the winter, and clean up the area you are preparing to work with," advises Hicks. Also, "remove items from your lawn, like furniture or toys, to reveal or prevent bald spots," says Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA.

Inspect hardscapes.

Look for misalignment, cracks and landscape lighting that needs to be adjusted, and determine what repairs are required.

Assess the health of your lawn. "Excessive winter weather and snow piles can kill grass. So check for bare spots, brown grass and compacted areas that need repair," adds Mann.

Prep your lawn.

"Rake, aerate, dethatch and level your lawn as needed using a specialized rake, aerator machine and shovel," Miller says.

You may need to overseed your yard this spring, or install new sod if the condition is extremely bad.-

Reseed or sod as needed.

"Choose a grass that suits your climate, and allow it to sprout before you begin mowing," Miller continues. Additionally, "avoid applying any pre-emergent with your early spring lawn treatment if you plan on planting new grass seed or installing sod. Instead, simply apply a balanced organic-based fertilizer in these areas," Hicks notes. "But if you plan on waiting until the autumn to do your annual grass planting or sod installation, it's best to apply a crabgrass barrier pre-emergent plus fertilizer to your lawn at this time."

Prep the soil before planting.

For all garden vegetables and plants, be sure the soil is in proper condition for planting. "Test the soil to make sure it has all the proper nutrients, and add organic matter or compost to the soil at the time of planting to improve soil structure and promote deeper roots," says Hicks. "This will mean less stress from insects, disease and heat."

With a little preparation, you'll be ready to enjoy your yard all summer long.-

Improve flower and garden beds.

"Start by raking garden beds and create a permanent edging to define the space, which you can do by pushing a flat-bladed shovel straight down at the edge of the bed and kicking the shovel forward," says Mann. Next, apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of fresh mulch over all your beds to reduce weeds throughout the season and retain moisture.

Before the season begins, take the time to sharpen the blades on your garden tools and lawn mower.-

Ready your mower.

Sharpen or replace your mower blades, making sure to remove the spark plug before doing so. "Dull blades can tear your grass and put your lawn at risk for fungus, causing it to turn a tan or brown color," cautions Hicks.

Remember to set a correct mower height, too. "For warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda or St. Augustine, the height should be three-quarters of an inch to 1 inch after being cut. For cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass or fescues, the height should be 2 inches to 4 inches high after being cut," Hicks adds.

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Tackle these tasks to ensure a better-looking yard this summer - Chicago Daily Herald

Listen to the conversation on KCUR's Central Standard.

Dine-in or delivery, dinner or dessert, Kansas City's Asian food scene boasts a variety of traditional and experimental offerings representative of our city's growing desire for knowledge of food cultures.

"People try these dishes in a very particular part of the world or country, and they want that flavor back home," says food-and-beverage writer Pete Dulin. "It's a craving for more variety too."

"I also think our culture has moved toward living for experiences," said food critic Bonjwing Lee. "We are getting more into the granular knowledge of where the food comes from."

Whether diners are looking for dishes that represent an entire country, such as China or Korea, or something more regionally specific, like Szechuan-style cooking, they'll find it in Kansas City.

Here are the Central Standard Food Critics' recommendations for the city's best Asian food.

Pete Dulin, food and beverage writer and author of KC Ale Trail:

Danielle Lehman, Open Belly Podcast:

Bonjwing Lee, The Ulterior Epicure:

Listener recommendations:

Noah Taborda is an intern for KCUR's Central Standard. Reach out to him on Twitter @NoahTaborda.

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Food Critics: The Best Asian Food In Kansas City In 2020 - KCUR