By Katie Mosher, NC Sea Grant

kmosher@ncsu.edu

It may be sultry now, but autumn isnt so far off. If youre looking for activities to keep you busy in the cooler months, consider sprucing up your yard. The Coastal Landscapes Initiative, or CLI, has produced several resources over the past year to inspire and assist those interested in nature-enhancing landscaping.

Most recently, a CLI team produced a set of 10 landscaping design templates featuring native N.C. plants, available here. Each design provides ideal site conditions; a detailed planting guide; seasonal bloom or berry color; an illustration of the plantings at maturity; and maintenance tips.

These templates can be adapted to fit various yards and gardens, from the coast to the piedmont, says North Carolina Sea Grants coastal resources and communities specialist Gloria Putnam, who oversaw the project.

Earlier this year, two CLI members North Carolina Sea Grants coastal economist Jane Harrison and sustainablewatersand communities coordinator Christy Perrin held awebinaroffering tips on creating coastal landscapes that will benefit both local ecology and the surrounding community.

You can think of the webinar like an introductory course to sustainable landscaping, Harrison says. Hopefully people will find our suggestions practical and doable.

We designed the webinar to be shared in various settings. For example, board members of homeowners associations could watch it and then screen it for their residents, Perrin adds.

Coastal Landscaping also was the topic of conversation during a recent N.C. Museum of Natural SciencesVirtual Science Caf, hosted by Chris Smith and featuring guests Harrison, Perrin and Putnam. The team described how several CLI design templates can be applied to a yard along a tidal creek in Carteret County, as well as ways to reduce stormwater runoff, among other topics.

Another CLI resource released this year was aninteractive mapmarking the location of various gardens along the coast that demonstrate environmentally friendly landscaping practices. These sites are generally accessible to the public, although visitors should check on COVID-19-related restrictions.

Places like the N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island and the New Hanover County Arboretum have pollinator gardens that are really inspiring, says Putnam, who led the project. Visiting sites like these, either online or in person, is a great way to find ideas for your own garden.

A companiondemonstration garden checklistalso is available for anyone interested in creating their own model site.

In addition to these resources, last year CLI published abookletfeaturing 34 native N.C. plants including trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and flowers that flourish along the coast. The booklet provides brief descriptions of each plant and its ideal conditions. A companion brochure offers plant snapshots for easy reference.

For anyone who wants to learn about more species that thrive in coastal sun and salty air, a comprehensive native plant guide is available. Published by North Carolina Sea Grant and the University of North Carolina Press,Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas: A New Guide for Plant Identification and Use in the Coastal Landscapecovers more than 200 species, with color photographs and details about their value to wildlife, relationship to natural communities, propagation and landscape use. Author Paul E. Hosier is a founding member of the CLI as well.

As you consider your landscaping options, bear in mind that updates can be done incrementally.

Adopting new landscaping practices might seem daunting at first, but you dont have to tackle everything at once. You can start by planting a native, for instance, or by top-dressing your grass with compost. Harrison says. Our various CLI resources can guide you on small and large projects alike.

For more information about the Coastal Landscapes Initiative and for additional resources, visit go.ncsu.edu/coastallandscapes.

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Magnolia Moses, who lived in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, is among several rural African American residents featured in Richard Westmacotts 1992 book and exhibition titled African-American Gardens and Yards in the Rural South.

It is on display and available for public viewing Aug. 20 through Oct. 15 at the College of Environment and Designs Circle Gallery, which is located in the Jackson Street Building. The gallery interior is currently closed, but the display may be seen through the interior glass windows. Please wear a mask and keep safe distance from others when visiting.

Until the 1990s, much of the study of gardens in the American South concentrated on those of the elite and powerfulleisure gardens of ornament that added grace to an estate or homestead. These gardens emphasized the visual impact of Anglo-European landscapesthink of the highly formal gardens of Versailles in France or Blenheim Palace gardens in Englandand conveyed the wealth of the owners.

Vernacular landscapesspaces created with only local materials available to the people who live on-siteare also part of the rich history of Southern gardens. Westmacotts groundbreaking study shone light not only on the fascinating uses of these vernacular spaces, but also on the values of the people who lived there and maintained the gardens: ingenuity, self-reliance, hospitality and generosity.

The gardens featured were actual living and working spaces where many activities take place, from family gatherings to shelling peas to long talks with neighbors. Their aesthetic was directly tied to the work and pleasure married in these outdoor rooms. One standout feature was the swept ground, which made it easier to see unwelcome guests, like copperheads and rattlesnakes, and aided in fire prevention by preventing dried plant materials from growing too near the foundations of a homes raised wooden structure. Not only was the cleared, sandy yard a practical characteristic, but it was a cultural connection to the past: the swept yard was a direct import from life in West Africa where many enslaved Americans came from originally.

Westmacotts book addresses three essential questions: How do rural African Americans manipulate space? What factors or conditions influence the use of these spaces? Why has the use of yard garden space changed through time?

The gardens, Westmacott argues, trace the conditions of enslavement, tenancy and land ownership. They are not simply outdoor sites of respite; they are evolving landscapes that tell important stories of a history that was largely ignored until the last decade of the 20th century.

Westmacott, who taught landscape architecture for many years at UGA, was born in Singapore and raised in England and received an MLA degree from the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty at the College of Environment and Design. He and his family settled on an early 19th century farm in Stephens, Georgia, in 1977, where he became friends with local people living off the land. Moses, who was part of the inspiration behind African-American Gardens, was an immediate neighbor who became a good friend and mentor.

For more information about the display or Westmacotts book, contact Melissa Tufts, director of the Owens Library and Circle Gallery at the College of Environment and Design, at mtufts@uga.edu. Learn more about the Circle Gallery at https://ced.uga.edu/resources/circle_gallery/.

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Circle Gallery exhibition sheds light on living, working gardens - University of Georgia

In 2018 I wrote several articles on some of the birds that were among the bathing beauties of the birdbath in our yard. Thinking back on who the visitors were, got me thinking about easy and/or interesting ways to provide water for our bird friends.

We know that water in motion attracts birds, so adding this aspect will likely bring more birds to the bath. One method I have used is to take a gallon milk jug, punch a small hole in the bottom, tie a string around the neck and hang it over the bath and let it drip. The jug could be hung from a tree branch if the bath is under a tree or it could be hung from something like a shepherds hook that is positioned over the birdbath.

Small birds such as chickadees and nuthatches are often aced out of using larger birdbaths so a small one suits them better because there is no competition from the bigger birds that cant use it. I use a piece of pottery which is designed for a small plant. I fill it daily, and it works well. Black-capped chickadees use it regularly for both drinking and bathing. They find it just the right size when it comes to taking a bath. Other small birds such a goldfinches and house finches can easily make use of it too. My miniature birdbath is about 5 inches in length, 4 inches wide across the middle and about 2 inches deep. I only fill it up to an inch and a bit to keep the depth of water relatively shallow. This ensures that it doesnt intimidate birds that dont like deep water. It is placed it on a pedestal about 3.5 feet high and close to cover, but in position to avoid droppings or other debris from falling into the water.

We seldom see songbirds bathe in such things as large, open swimming pools due to the deepness of the water. Thus, check out the depth of your birdbath. As mentioned above, tiny birds wont venture into deep water, but larger birds such as robins will. Another way to make a relatively deep birdbath more enticing for smaller birds is to put a large flat rock on the bottom to create a shallow end (about 1 inch of water) Small birds can happily use the shallow end for splashing, by sitting on the rock, while the larger birds can use the deep end.

Adding a water feature to the landscape is another way to have water in motion. A small pond with a waterfall works well if the water falls over large rocks that are relatively flat on top. Like the birdbath idea above, the flat rock provides a shallow place where small birds can splash. My pond was like this, but I recently replaced it with three basalt water towers. Fresh water splashes over each of the three, large, rock towers 24 hours a day. It is perfect for all of the birds that visit my yard, including cedar waxwings, American robins, house finches, house sparrows, and American crows. Yesterday, an orange-crowned warbler stopped by. The birds both drink and bathe. Larger birds, such as partridge or pheasant, are also drawn to the yard by the bubbling sounds of the water tumbling over the picturesque water feature. They present themselves at the base of the towers where they can easily sip from the cascading water.

A birdbath, no matter what its size or shape, especially if it includes water in motion, can encourage a greater variety of birds to stop there. Perhaps they will stay around long enough for you to see and enjoy them!

Common Birds of the Long Beach Peninsula, by Kalbach and Stauffer, is available from Bay Avenue Gallery, Time Enough Books and the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau.

Continue reading here:
Birding: To enjoy and help birds, give them places to bathe - Chinook Observer

Enhancing your backyard? Experts say that the sights and sounds of water features make them one of the most impactful additions to consider.

Water features not only increase visual interest, but the bubbling sounds add a sense of calm to any outdoor space, said landscape designer Doug Scott of Redeem Your Ground in Atlanta, Ga. They also attract birds, butterflies and more, literally bringing life into your backyard.

So how do you select the right water feature for your yard? According to Scott, here is what to consider:

Fountains:

Fountains create the sights and sounds my clients are looking for and they do it in a way that accommodates their potential space and budget constraints, Scott said.

Water gardens and fishponds:

The added bonus of fishponds is that youll be able to enjoy the beauty of koi and goldfish while providing them a home, Scott said.

Scott cautioned that when compared to other water features, fishponds do add expense and necessary periodic maintenance. Beyond stocking the pond, you will need a pump to aerate and circulate the water, as well as vegetation to create oxygen and provide a natural food source. Additionally, you must provide adequate protection for the fish from the land and air predators that likely will pay your pond a visit. On the plus side, fishponds will attract an abundance of non-predatory wildlife to your yard.

Although adding a pond or water garden is more involved than just buying a fountain and plugging it in, the life itll bring to your family outdoors is limitless, Scott said.

Waterfalls and streams:

To learn more, check out the new Exmark Original video, Done-In-A-Weekend Projects: Go With the Flow, in which Scott discusses the various benefits, maintenance needs and other considerations of each water feature type. The episode can be found by visiting Exmark.com/Backyard. Exmarks Backyard Life is part of a unique multimedia destination focused on helping homeowners make the most of their backyard. While visiting the site, you also can access other Exmark Original Series, including Prime Cuts, Done-In-A-Weekend Extreme Projects and Dream Yards.

Installing a water feature in your yard is an effective way to add vitality and beauty to the space. However, it is important to understand the long-term maintenance requirements of your specific project.

Read the rest here:
Tips to enhance your backyard with water features - Rocky Mount Telegram

Leimone Waite, Master gardeners Published 5:00 a.m. PT Aug. 14, 2020

Make sure you follow these 3 tips for a healthy vegetable garden. USA TODAY

Q: What is wrong with my hydrangea? The outer part of the leaf has suddenly turned a lighter green while the middle part of the leaf is dark green. This is happening to most of the leaves on the shrub.

A: This sounds like the classic symptoms of water stress, especially given the very hot temperatures we had this past week.On these hot days the soil dries out and plants wilt and then are watered and rehydrate;however the cells in the outer margin of the leaf have suffered too much damage to fully recover. Because the damage occurs so fast, plants are not able to relocate chlorophyll to other leaves so the damaged portion of the leaf retains a dull green color.

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Even if your yard is receiving regular irrigation, on really hot days the water requirements of plants can dramatically increase and you may need to increase watering accordingly. I have plants in potsI have to water twice per day on days when temperatures are over 105 degrees and it's windy. There are ways to help manage the need for extra watering, such as moving potted plants into the shade on hot days, or mulching around plants keep them from drying out as quickly.

The first signs of water stress in landscape plants and trees include wilted or drooping leaves that do not return to normal once temperatures cool at night, curled or yellow leaves that may fold or drop, leaves that change to a grayish or bluish green color, sunburned leavesand new leaves that are smaller than normal.

Ornamental grass or lawns may show water stress by changing to a bluish gray color rather than a vibrant green or have wilted blades of grass. As things dry out further, the tips of the grass may turn yellow and then eventually brown. Another quick check to see if the lawn is water stressed is tosee if the lawn grasses retain a footprint for several minutes. If theydo, the grass needs more water. If these hot temperatures persist and the lawn does not receive adequate water, it may gradually turn brown and go dormant.

Monica Ho, Mai'Ana Airport Plaza manager, takes pride in growing vegetables and succulents in a garden she created at the 78-unit apartment complex in Tamuning on July 29, 2020. Pacific Daily News

The good news for your hydrangea is that it should recover as long as it continues to get adequate water. You may want to remove leaves that are heavily damaged, being careful not to remove the leaf bud at the base of the leafas these will grow into new leaves. You can fertilize the plant to help with new leaf growth, but choose a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer and use at the lowest recommended rate. Too much nitrogen fertilizer stimulates rapid growth and increases the need for more water, causing even more stress to the plant.

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Once this heat spell is over, dont forget to dial back your irrigation timer, as overwatering can be just as stressful to plants as under watering. Signs of overwatering include drooping leaves or lower leaves becoming yellow and dropping, and lawns that feel spongy or turn yellow.

Master Gardeners(Photo: Master Gardeners)

You can find additional information for managing water stress in the University of Californiapublication Keeping Plants Alive under Drought or Water Restrictions. It's free to download at https://bit.ly/3akWnyp.

The Shasta Master Gardeners Program can be reached by phone at 242-2219 or email mastergardener@shastacollege.edu. The gardener office is staffed by volunteers trained by the University of California to answer gardeners' questions using information based on scientific research.

Read or Share this story: https://www.redding.com/story/life/2020/08/14/how-tell-if-your-plants-water-stressed-out/3340772001/

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How to tell if your plants are water-stressed out - Record Searchlight

You live in a beautiful house that has been your home, and you are planning to perhaps one day sell it off. This naturally makes you wonder whether there is something you can do now to increase the value of your property in the long run and that you can still enjoy while youre there. Construction and big renovations are noisy and disturb your peace, so what can you do? How about you start thinking green and plant some trees. Heres how planting a tree today can add so much value to your property tomorrow.

Nobody plants a 70-year-old oak. You plant it young, and then you nourish it and care for it while it grows, and over the years, it repays you for all the work youve put in. There is nothing that can replace that. You cant speed up time and make a tree grow faster, you just have to be patient. When potential buyers see a home with a few young saplings in the yard, they might think it will be nice in the future, but if they see a big, tall tree that casts a lovely shade and gives fruit they will fall in love immediately. If then dont want it for some reason, they can hire a tree service to take it down and perhaps turn it into a beautiful table but they can never go the other way and make it grow. Its an investment that is really like no other in that sense.

If youve ever paid the bills during a hot summer when the AC is running all the time you start to appreciate every little degree you can lower naturally. And trees provide exactly that: a shade that prevents the suns rays from heating up your windows and walls and every inch of your house. The less direct sunlight, the less your AC needs to work to keep the place cool, which will lower the bills always a good sign for buyers. In addition to that, if you have a beautiful lawn, it might get absolutely scorched by the sun in the summer heat, and youll have to invest a lot of water and power into sprinklers to keep it alive. But if theres some shade that moves around and covers the grass throughout the day, you can lower the water usage.

Unlike other types of plants that you might want to plan in order to raise value (and many plants do, in fact, raise value), trees dont require much maintenance. They dont need to be watered, trimmed weekly, or kept safe from pests. The older a tree is, the deeper the roots go the more resilient it is. And people love things that give benefits without them putting work in, so unlike a full garden where they would either really have to get their hands dirty or hire a gardener, a tree will always just be there, majestic and beautiful.

A big, perfectly trimmed back yard with just endless grass to host BBQs on and play fetch with your dog is nice but a tree adds interest. It keeps the eye moving, especially if there are several trees. Not only when its at a standstill, but when the wind blows, it becomes so much more dynamic and gives life to space. Theres really nothing that can even come close to mimicking what a tree provides to the landscape of your home.

As people, we dont get attached to things, we get attached to emotions. A photo is just a photo, and a watch is just a watch, but the stories behind the two are what gives it so much value every time we look at them. The same goes for trees: Buying a property that has a number on it is fine, but when you show potential buyers your home, and you talk about the tree under which your child took their first steps, the swing that was put there decades ago that you played on and the hammock in which your late grandfather took his afternoon naps now youre selling a story. And the story will add so much value. Not only that but when you add the story, the new tenants will be much more inclined to take care of the tree after they inherit it.

There are many ways you can add value to your home, but few have as good of a cost-benefit as a tree. Make a fun activity out of it with your family, take a weekend to pick out some trees, plan where to put them, dig up some dirt, and watch the value of your home grow.

Link:
Why Having Trees in Your Property Increases Its Overall Value - E/The Environmental Magazine

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho May is Wildfire Awareness Month in Idaho, begging the question, are you prepared? Wildfires threaten lives, property and precious resources every year. Firefighters and emergency responders are needed more than ever to keep Idahoans safe, so please do your part to protect your home from wildfire. Steps taken now can reduce risk to first responders and your private property should a wildfire ignite.

Now is a great time to tackle home improvement projects as many of us have additional time on our hands. Consider making your property more resistant to wildfire. Take individual responsibility to reduce flammable material around homes and communities before a fire occurs to keep your families, property, pets, livestock and firefighters safe, said Fire Management Officer Joel Gosswiller.

To mitigate the impact of wildfire, maintain a low-ignition landscape around your home. This firewise principle can dramatically reduce fire risk, while still offering a beautifully landscaped yard. Achieving a low-ignition landscape does require some manual labor but doesnt have to be expensive. Get started by working on the following tips:

Fires need fuel, oxygen, and heat to burn. A low-ignition landscape reduces the fuel load both in amount of vegetation and height, which keeps fire at bay and reduces the risk of embers igniting the home. Taking the time to keep your yard clean and green can greatly increase a homes chances of survival if a wildfire occurs. Discover how you can make your home and landscape less vulnerable to ignition from a wildfire at http://www.idahofirewise.org.

Adhere to your state's outdoor burning guidance. Before burning, contact your local fire agency as smoke from open burning can cause unnecessary public health and safety concerns.

In case of wildfire develop an evacuation plan to ensure the safety of you, your family, and your pets and livestock. Learn more at http://www.wildlandfirersg.org

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.

Read more:
Do your part to protect your home from wildfire! - The Herald Journal

Allison Watkins, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Published 11:16 a.m. CT May 8, 2020

A healthy thick green lawn can provide lots of enjoyment and beauty to the home. Not every home needs a lot of turfgrass though.(Photo: Getty Images)

Lawns are one of the important foundations of most home landscapes, along with trees and shrubs.

A healthy thick green lawn can provide lots of enjoyment and beauty to the home. Not every home needs a lot of turfgrass though, and turf-free landscapes are becoming more and more popular.

Lawns tend to require the most labor and inputs in an average landscape, so reducing the total amount of turfgrass can be a good idea. But lawns dont have to be an enemy to the environment; efficient irrigation, good species selection, proper soil management and good lawn care practices can reduce the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides.

Its all about balance the Earth-Kind method would include all of the above, and also recommends reducing the total amount of turfgrass to about one-third of the yard area. The other two-thirds can include things like planting beds, groundcovers, shrubs, decks, pathways, etc. Besides requiring less labor and inputs, these features can make the yard more inviting, interesting and functional.

A turf-free landscape is a good option for those that dont need turfgrass.

There are lots of options that can help create a beautiful green, lush yard that conserves natural resources and doesnt require weekly mowing; and it can be done in a well-designed, attractive way.

Sprinklers should not throw a fine mist, but large droplets that make it through the air and into the soil.(Photo: rvbox, Getty Images)

Try an internet search such as lawn free landscaping to get visual ideas and inspiration. Flagstone pavers with small groundcover growing in between, more beds for perennials and edibles, and turf-alternatives such as mondograss or native grass mixes are just a few of the many ideas and options.

For those that do want to maintain a healthy stand of turfgrass, mowing and irrigation are some important tasks to focus on this time of year.

Frequent, correct mowing and proper irrigation have the biggest impact on the lawn staying dense and keeping out weeds.

Mow at the correct height (about 0.5 inch for hybrid bermudagrass, 1 inch for common bermudagrass, and 2.5 inches for St. Augustine), often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass is removed at once.

Allison Watkins(Photo: San Angelo Standard-Times)

Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting. One inch of water, once per week is sufficient in the hot dry part of summer, and once every two or three weeks is enough when its cooler in the spring and fall. Use an efficient irrigation method and consider converting sprinkler nozzles to a more efficient type if needed, such as a multi-stream nozzle. Sprinklers should not throw a fine mist, but large droplets that make it through the air and into the soil.

Allison Watkins is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent for horticulture in Tom Green County. Contact her at aewatkins@ag.tamu.edu.

Read or Share this story: https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/life/home-garden/2020/05/08/spring-lawn-care-and-turf-free-options/3091696001/

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Spring lawn care and turf-free options - Standard-Times

The Cincinnati Bengals are heading in a new direction behind newly-minted franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. The Bengals drafted Burrow first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after the signal-caller led the LSU Tigers to a national championship.

Burrow was given the franchise keys after the Bengals released Andy Dalton last week. He will have an upgraded supporting cast with playmakers A.J. Green, Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd and John Ross all healthy.

Green is the Bengals' biggest offensive weapon. After missing the entire 2019 season with a left ankle injury, the NFL veteran is ready to develop chemistry with his new quarterback.

Speaking with Bengals senior writer Geoff Hobson, Green is excited to help Burrow make the transition to the NFL and is willing to meet up and train whenever it's possible.

We've been talking back and forth, Green said. We were talking yesterday and I know he wants to get together and throw somewhere. I told him wherever he is, we'll come to him. I don't know where, when, how. It's all who can fly where and when. He's the quarterback. He makes his location and we have to get there.

Green is looking to get back to his Pro Bowl form. Since entering the NFL in 2011, Green has been one of the leagues best receivers. He has six 1,000-yard seasons and averaged 14.8 yards per catch in his NFL career.

He is also a touchdown magnet. Green has 63 career touchdowns and been reliable making plays down the field. His production will be beneficial to Burrow as he learns to decipher NFL defenses this season.

It's a process of trying to be great, Green said. You play this game long enough, you're going to have these bumps in the road and you have to keep fighting. That's where I am. Still fighting. I still love the game. I'm just ready to get back and play.

To prepare for the season, Green has kept up with Burrows success. He told Hobson that he has watched a lot of film to learn on his new quarterback. He knows that Burrow will bring energy to the Bengals locker room.

You have to respect his grind and his process the way he goes about his business each day, Green said.

Burrow is excited to work alongside Green. After dominating the college football landscape with 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, he will get to work with another elite-level receiver to help him navigate his rookie season.

The thing about the NFL is there's good players everywhere, Burrow said. A couple of injuries here or there can really change a season and change you from a playoff-caliber team to a 2-14 team. So, we have what it takes. Whatever they need me to do, I'm going to do it. Hopefully, I can bring something to the team that is positive and brings about wins.

The Bengals begin their 2020 season at home against the Los Angles Chargers. It will be the first chance for Bengals fans to see Burrow and Green on the field at the same time.

Read more from the original source:
AJ Green ready to develop chemistry with Joe Burrow this season - 247Sports

Jeanie Stephens, jeanie.stephens@thetelegraph.com

Gardener and author Crystal Stevens, right, with her husband and two children who work together on the family farm and business, FLOURISH, in Godfrey.

Gardener and author Crystal Stevens, right, with her husband and two children who work together on the family farm and business, FLOURISH, in Godfrey.

Photo: Photos By Candice Pyle |The Telegraph

Gardener and author Crystal Stevens, right, with her husband and two children who work together on the family farm and business, FLOURISH, in Godfrey.

Gardener and author Crystal Stevens, right, with her husband and two children who work together on the family farm and business, FLOURISH, in Godfrey.

Mother of two empowers others through a life of gardening

GODFREY Crystal Stevens of Godfrey may not care for summer heat, but that hasnt kept her from doing what she loves: running a successful organic farm and plant nursery with her husband and two children.

An expert in growing ones own food and herbs, the local garden enthusiast and three-time author launched FLOURISH in 2018 along with her husband, Eric.

It just feels good to do what I love, she said. I wouldnt have it any other way.

Being able to wake up and go outside at sunrise and tend to the crops is my favorite part, along with getting to show my children the seed-to-table process and being able to work side-by-side with my husband growing good food and working with plants, she said. We make a really good team.

The FLOURISH farm, plant nursery and small apothecary operates on about 1.5 acres. It offers garden installation, landscape design and educational workshops as well as heirloom vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and pollinator plants. The couple, who have been farming together since 2008, have nearly 40 years of combined experience in farming and gardening.

My mom got me into gardening, she said. She never really grew vegetables. She grew heirloom irises from her grandmothers yard. So its fifth generation iris flowers that we have growing in our garden, passed down for five generations.

The plant nursery also sells a variety of fruit and nut trees such as service berries, hazelnuts and chinese chestnuts. Pollinator plants, like smooth sumac, are also available through the online store. FLOURISHs newly launched Community Supported Agriculture program offers a weekly harvest of its crops for a set fee. With the launching of an herbal foundations program last year, its products, services and opportunities continue to increase.

Last year my friend Alex Queathem and I launched the Tend and Flourish School of Botanicals, which is an herbal foundations program, she said. Its like an herb school, basically, for the Midwest.

A vegetarian since she was 13, Stevens said she has always had an interest in healthy eating and herbal medicine. Her path became more solidified when her father was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. Due to leave for college in less than a month, she instead got a job at a health food store to help her dad who didnt want to go through chemo and radiation.

He was given six months to live, she said. I just started working there to get the supplements discount and discount on local produce and juice to bring to my dad, and he lived five additional years with acupuncture, healthy eating, medicinal mushrooms, herbal tea blends and herbal suppleme nts.

The mother of two also has used her experience to author three books on gardening and farming, finding the transition from gardener to author came rather naturally.

I just started writing, said Stevens. I was really interested in writing poetry and that kind of morphed into writing about gardening and farming and telling the stories of the land, stewarding land and anecdotes of a day in the life of an organic farmer.

Worms at Work, Grow, Create, Inspire and Your Edible Yard offer gardening tips and simple ways budding gardeners can operate on a budget. They cover topics such as vermicompost, preparing and preserving harvest and growing food. She said the books are one way she hopes to cultivate a life of health, happiness and abundance for herself and others.

It feels good to just be empowering others to grow food and simplifying it in a way that makes it accessible for people to feel like they can also start a garden, because it can be expensive, intimidating and overwhelming, said Stevens. I absolutely love working with plants.

Stevens also makes public speaking engagements and offers educational workshops some at The Nature Institute in Godfrey geared to resilient living, gardening and compost, healthy eating and herbal medicine. She also spoke at Mother Earth News fairs across the country before the pandemic.

For more information on FLOURISH, visit growcreateinspire.com, shop.growcreateinspire.com or tendandflourishschool.com. FLOURISH also sells at the Tower Grove Farmers Market and the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market.

Read more from the original source:
Mother of two empowers others through a life of gardening - Alton Telegraph