NEWS • Page 2 of 2 • WELLNESS GARDEN DESIGN

Happy Friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th!! Do you have Paraskevidekatriaphobia or just the run of the mill Triskaidekaphobia?

It’s been estimated that $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day because people will not fly or do business they would normally do. .. However, you could always stay home and cuddle-up with your internet device and read my posts all day!! =-)

Traditionally in numerology, 12 is considered the number of completeness: the 12 signs of the zodiac, the 12 Apostles, 12 hours of the clock, the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 days of Christmas – the list goes on. The number 13 is considered a transgression, or going beyond completeness.

There are many historical tales as to why either Friday or the number 13 are bad news:

Frigga (Frigg) The Norse love goddess and wife of Odin, was worshiped on the sixth day of the week. Christians though of Frigga as a witch, thus considered Friday to be the witches’ day.
Another Norse legend tells of one fine day in Valhalla, home to the 12 Norse gods, a party was taking place. Loki (the trickster) crashed the party (13th guest) and arranged for Hoder (the blind god of darkness) to kill Baldr (the beautiful god of light) with a mistletoe-tipped arrow, his only way to die. After Baldr’s death, the world got dark and mourned the death of the god. After that, the number 13 has been associated with gloom and doom.
The Last Supper was believed to be attended by thirteen people. The thirteenth being Judas. (That story sounds familiar?) Oh, don’t forget, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
Eve’s offering the apple to Adam in the Garden of Eden, supposedly happened on a Friday.
Chaucer even alluded to Friday as a day on which bad things seemed to happen in the Canterbury Tales as far back as the late 14th century (“And on a Friday fell all this mischance”), but references to Friday as a day connected with ill luck generally start to show up in Western literature around the mid-17th century: “Now Friday came, you old wives say, Of all the week’s the unluckiest day.” (1656)

So, what can be done to avoid the curse of Friday the 13th? Maybe try starting out your Friday with one of these folklore curse remedies.*

Climb to the top of a mountain or skyscraper and burn all the socks you own that have holes in them
Stand on your head and eat a piece of gristle
Greeks think sponge baths cure you of curses
Spitting on the person or thing causing the curse will rid it
Place a black candle into the black bowl, fix the candle to the bowl using the wax drippings from the candle so that it stands alone. Fill the bowl to the rim with fresh water, without wetting the wick. Breathe deeply and meditate for a few minutes. When your mind is clear, light the candle. Visualize the power the spell cast against you as living within the candles flame. As the candle burns down, it will sputter and go out as it touches the water. The curse is broken when the flames go out. Finally, dig a hole into the ground, pour the water into it, then bury the candle.

Dr. Donald Dossey, author of “Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun: Mythical Origins, Scientific Treatments,” thinks he’s found the cure. Once a sufferer learns how to pronounce “paraskavedekatriaphobia,” he said in an interview with NPR, they’re magically cured.

* I found these answers on the internet. Thus, since I found these on the internet, they surely must be true and factual 😉

Feng Shui Garden Design

Feng Shui originated in China approximately 6,000 years ago. Feng Shui involves the arrangement of objects in relation to the flow of Qi (Chi, 氣) “natural energy” to bring about happiness, abundance and harmony. Literally, Feng Shui translates to “wind” (Feng) and “water” (Shui).

There are many types of Feng Shui, however this post will describe one of the original forms called “Compass School”. This form uses “Patterns of Chi” which involves the use of a compass, hence the name.

Feng Shui uses the 8 directions of the compass represented by the 8 outer squares with the center square represents the center of your life.

Each compass direction has certain colors and elements associated with it: earth, water, wood, metal or fire (The 5 Elements). These colors and elements are used in the design to balance and harmonize the garden. Each of these areas is called a “gua” in Chinese. “Ba” means eight, therefore the “Bagua” means 8 areas.

Feng Shui is a concept you don’t learn in one reading. Mastery of the craft can take years of learning. However, the chart (or following verbiage) can give you a great start to the structure of your Feng Shui garden or spruce-up your current one. There are a variety of tools available in Feng Shui to unblock energy and balance the garden (and your life). So, if you feel you need some help in a certain area of your life, accent that specific qua.

Color adds emotional, physiological and social content to our lives. We associate certain things with color, such as holidays, events and emotions. In Feng Shui, color is primarily used to correspond and balance The 5 Elements.
Natural lighting is a simple way to bring more chi into your garden. Clearly, the most natural of light is sunlight and moonlight, which the garden has in spades. However, to supplement at night, use full-spectrum landscape lighting or fireplaces/pits work also.
Sound creates a strong connection to our natural environment. Attracting birds and other friendly wildlife can create a flurry of noises. Water features such as fountains and ponds will stimulate the movement of chi in and around your garden.
Any type of art can enhance chi. The selection and placement of art depends on what area of the bagua (8 areas) you need to activate. Your choice of art should reflect your specific tastes and relate positive images and feelings. Try to patch the art’s material with the element of the qua.
Plants and objects that utilize the wind such as grasses, large-leafed trees, wind chimes, mobiles and weather vanes attract chi into your garden.

How to enhance the 8 squares of the bagua:

NORTH

Energy: This area represents your career or your path in life
Element: Water
Color: Blue or black
Type of adornment: Natural stone features or rocks with water

NORTHEAST

Energy: Corresponds to your personal, spiritual and educational growth
Element: Earth
Color: Yellow, brown, pink (other earthy tones)
Type of adornment: Bench to practice mindfulness or a Zen garden

EAST

Energy: Symbolizes the family and your health
Element: Wood
Color: Green
Type of adornment: Anything made from wood

SOUTHEAST

Energy: Represents wealth and opportunity in your life
Element: Wood
Color: Purple, green, red, blue and gold
Type of adornment: Wooden garden art or wood pile for burning

SOUTH

Energy: Symbolizes fame, success and recognition
Element: Fire
Color: Red
Type of adornment: A BBQ, fire pit or candles

SOUTHWEST

Energy: Brings love, relationships or peace
Element: Earth
Color: Brown, white, pink, yellow, red
Type of adornment: Patio with table for dining

WEST

Energy: Is for creativity and dreaming
Element: Metal
Color: White, silver, gray or copper
Type of adornment: Jungle-gym, yoga/work-out spot or art area

NORTHWEST

Energy: Corresponds to travel and helping people
Element: Metal
Color: Gray, white, black, anything metallic in color
Type of adornment: Sitting area for family and friends

Autumn Annual Containers

My favorite season is on its way, AUTUMN!!! Which also means it’s time for autumn annual containers.

The only thing you need remember for a well-presented display is: Thriller, Filler & Spiller!

Thriller is that one large plant that is generally in the center and taller than the rest.
Filler are those mid-range sized plants, often of ‘fatter or fuller’ stature.
Spiller is just that, plants that hang over the edge of the pot.

The only small difference you need to remember is that autumn plants do not grow like summer plants do. Basically, WYSIWYG (what you see, is what you get), you do not need to think about a plant growing into it’s place. Fill the pot to it’s greatest extent because this container will only be around for two months at best.

Here’s a great tip when using grasses: There’s no need to plant them! Wire, tie or tape them together right at the base (think ponytail), and stuff them in. Therefore, no high-end real estate being wasted on another bundle of roots.

Most autumn plants are also not that tall. I use grasses, sticks and other material to get the height the design requires.

Here’s what I commonly order for my autumn containers:

Miscanthus grasses – These add great height & texture
Pennisetum millet – Height & texture, fuzzy seedheads.
Heuchera – Coral bells – Great colored leaves available
Acorus & Carex – A nice bright yellow or white for a great spiller
Sedums – Great for spillers
Ajuga – Nice texture
Rudbeckia – Great reds, yellows and oranges available, also great for height
Kale – It comes in many varieties from cabbage/round style to tall parsley-looking
Osaka Cabbage – A staple in most of my designs. Fills those ‘holes’ really well
Swiss Chard – A wonderful filler that is very colorful also
Mums – Surely the official fall flower!!! Great filler
Calibracoa – They look like small petunias, but can handle the cooler temps. Great spiller
Ivy – Sometimes I reuse the ivy from the summer containers (Shhh) as it still looks great and it’s much bigger than the newly ordered pots
Ornamental Jerusalem Cherry – Looks like a tomato plant, but use with caution, they don’t take the cool weather well & the ‘cherries’ fall off
Ornamental peppers – Great way to splash in some color to the filler section (No, you can’t eat them!)
Crotons – One of my favs! Great for a colorful thriller
Pansy – These cool season flowers look great and add great color to the pot
Bittersweet or honeysuckle – This one is not alive, but it is a great finishing touch to the design. Unfortunately, it is a very invasive species, but is grown for the floral industry. I wish someone would get a business together where they would ‘wild collect’ this and do a ‘two-fer’ for society, invasive removal & design enjoyment
Eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, corn and millet – Wonderful for height and fill

Keeping Cut Flowers Blooming Strong

Keeping your cut flowers as fresh for as long as possible is easy with this list of tips.

First, choose a clean vase or container for your arrangement. For hard-to-clean narrow-necked containers, simply add dried beans or coarse salt to the vase with water and swish. Here in limestone land (alkaline), I use some vinegar to rid the vases of white spots (calcium).

There are other options to using a vase, florist foam (called florist oasis). If the blooms are of a taller variety, a disk of chicken wire pushed into the neck will help hold them straight. Rocks, pebbles, or florist colored-jelly balls can help hold stems upright also.

The best time to harvest flowers from your garden is in the early morning when moisture is at it’s highest. When purchasing flowers from the store, never place them in a rear-window of a car, a windy location or where the sun hits them. Wrapping them in damp newspaper or paper towel will help them stay hydrated.

Aside from trimming off all leaves that could potentially be in the vase water, it is always good practice to trim at least an inch off the stem before arranging, if possible, cut under water. In addition to these two practices, here are some special treatments for some floral arrangement favorites:

Clemantis = Pour boiling water over the stems, then place them in cold water. Another choice would be to dip them in champagne for a few hours before arranging in vase. (Drink leftover champagne… 😉

Daffodils = Cut them in bud or barely open. Fill the hollow stems with water and plug with a small amount of cotton. This works for all hollow stemmed flowers. (delphinium, amaryllis). Don’t put other flowers with them, they give off chemicals harmful to other flowers.

Dahlias = Never cut in tight bud, as they will not open.

Poppies = Harvest while still in bud. Sear the base with a lighter or by dipping in boiling water.

Gladioli = Cut when lowest floret is opening, and remove a few of the top buds.

Hellebores & Lilacs = Smash or split the stems before arranging in vase. This technique works for all woody type flowers.

Lilies = Harvest while still in bud. As flowers open, trim off anthers to prevent the pollen from staining anything nearby.

Marigolds = When re-cutting stem, trim exactly at a node (where the leaf meets the stem). Condition the flowers before adding them to the main arrangement by setting them in a vase for an hour with a tablespoon each of sugar and bleach.

Pansies = Submerge flowers one to two hours in tepid water to revive. They also fair better when a few leaves are left on.

Peonies = Cut them when the buds are half open and coloring. Slit the stems one to two inches to aid with water uptake.

Tulips = Add a few drops of vodka to keep them from drooping. I like to add some vodka to my drink, too.

Clearly, arranging cut flowers could lead to getting tipsy 😉 Be safe out there!!

Homemade Dirty Chai Latte

Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than a sip from a dirty chai latte! However, I’m not a big fan of the high cost or shoddy attempts some coffee shops make… I’ve literally see some pour it out of a box! The horror!

I finally started experimenting with making my own dirty chai latte. It took a few tries, however I finally tweaked it to amazing.

Ingredients for Basic Chai Tea:

I found all of the ingredients at Amazon.

2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon powdered vanilla bean
1 1/2 cups black tea powder (TEAki Hut Instant Black Tea Powder)

This is your basic chai tea recipe. It can be made in many ways. Mixing a teaspoon or two in hot water is the easiest way to make it, however it packs a powerful punch.

I make mine in my Mr. Coffee!

I use 3 teaspoons of chai mix for an eight cup pot. I also add two tablespoons of espresso to the filter.

After brewing, add your favorite sweetener and creamer. Done!

Add these Ingredients to Make Chai Latte MIX:

If you’d like to make the recipe fully out of powdered ingredients, continue with these.

1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar (or sweetener of choice)
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup French vanilla-flavored powdered nondairy creamer

How About these Options:

Chocolate Chai Mix: Add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa along with dry milk powder to the latte blend above. Follow serving directions above.

Chai Shake: Blend 1/8 cup Chai Tea Mix, 1/2 cup milk, and 2 cups vanilla ice cream in a blender.

White Chocolate Chai: Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped premium white chocolate to your cup of Chai Tea Mix.

Plants That Tantalize All 5 Senses

When designing wellness gardens (or any garden for that matter), I prefer to use plants that tantalize all 5 senses.

Although most gardens look pretty, many don’t offer more than sight for sense stimulation.

The purpose of a wellness garden is to distract people from their current issues and to make them feel better. When senses are distracted by sights, sounds and smells, the mind can be easily swayed to relax and live in the moment.

Here are a few of my favorite plants, listed by the sense they arouse.

I see you:

These plants are all long blooming or have large blooms.

Phlox (all types)
Echinacea (coneflowers)
Hibiscus (moscheutos – perennial)
Heuchera (coral bells)
Gaillardia (blanket flower)

Odor:

These plants all smell wonderful, some have scented foliage.

Monarda (beebalm)
Paeonia (peony)
Clematis (terniflora – Sweet Autumn)
Lavendula (lavender)
Hemerocallis (daylily – not all are fragrant)

Sounds:

These plants may need a bit of outside stimulus to create noise.

Chasmanthium (northern sea oats grass – rustles in wind )
Veronica (longifola spike – attracts noisy bees)
Baptisia (seedpods knock in wind)
Fargesia (hardy bamboo – poles bump in wind)
Hosta (large leaves amplify rain)

Tasty:

These plants are all edible and safe to eat. (Click here for more edible flowers)

Borago (officinalis tastes like cucumbers)
Nasturtiums (have a peppery bite)
Viola (violet – the leaves & flowers )
Dianthus (cheddar pinks – taste like cloves)
Trifolium (clover – tastes like honey)

Feels:

These plants all have interesting textures or have other interesting sensations.

Artemisia (wormwood – so soft and fluffy)
Sedum (many different textures)
Ferns (great leaf structures)
Liatris (gayfeather – furry spike flowers)
Physostegia (obedient plant – flowers can be moved)

What are some plants that tantalize your 5 senses?

Mindfulness Practice in a Wellness Garden

Stop for a moment. Consider just how valuable this present moment is. This moment is all there truly is.

The concept of practicing mindfulness involves focusing on the present situation and staying in that state of mind. This can mean awareness of your surroundings, emotions, breathing or enjoying each and every step of a really nice hike. Research in recent decades has linked mindfulness practices to a staggering collection of possible health benefits.

When the mind is left to itself, it wanders through all kinds of thoughts, including bad thoughts expressing rage, depression, revenge, self-pity, sadness… When we pander to these kinds of thoughts we reinforce those emotions in our hearts and cause ourselves suffering. For the most part, these thoughts are about the past or future. The past no longer exists and the future isn’t here yet. The one moment we actually can experience is the present moment, and it seems to be the one we spend the least time in.

Although mindfulness can be done anywhere, wellness gardens are generally a great place to practice, due to their design attributes. A well-designed garden will have all kinds of sensory input, nooks to hide in and a general respect of presence from others. (Like an outdoor library)

Lets Begin:

Find a secluded spot.
Turn your phone off, aside from a timer. Otherwise, you may obsess on when to end. Start with 5-10 minutes.
Get comfortable, whatever that means for you. Be able to relax your parts, though.
Start by concentrating on your breath. Breathe however is normal for you.
Next start to relax. I like to start in my toes. I tell my toes to relax. Then I work my way up my body… Legs, relax. Hips, relax. Tummy, relax.
After your body enters a relaxed state, you’re now going to focus on things around you. Don’t react to these things, just observe your surroundings without judgment. (e.g. – if you’re hearing traffic, don’t judge it as bad, just note that traffic is what you’re hearing, no more than that.) Start with one sense at a time. Seeing can be one of the easiest, however, it can also be overwhelming. I feel hearing is a good one to start with.
Close your eyes and hear what is around you. It may be birds, water, other people or traffic. Pick one and try to focus on it. Try to make the other sounds go away. Once you do that, stop this one and move on to another sense.
Smell the air. Inhale the fragrance of the flowers or maybe even what’s cooking for supper!
Feel the wind or sun on your face. If you’re close enough to a plant, touch it. Near water? Put a toe or hand in. Feel the sensations it offers.
Taste can be a bit difficult, but you can skip it, or bring a beverage, piece of fruit or a veggie with you.
For sight, take in everything around you, gently. Then, focus on whatever was the most pleasant for you.
After you have identified & focused on all available senses individually, you can try to combine the ones you enjoyed most. This may take a bit of time to master.
If you feel yourself starting to think about your life challenges at any point of the session, bring yourself back gently to concentrating on your breathing.
When you’re done, stretch. Embrace & thank all of the things you’ve experienced.

Do you have any other techniques you use to practice mindfulness?

Please let me know in the comments!!

Edible Flowers for the Wellness Garden

Designing a garden with edible flowers is not only pretty to look at, but delicious to eat. It also makes the garden safe for clients that may not know eating random flowers can be dangerous.

Growing edible flowers in your garden is easy and so beautiful, that they can be grown in your front yard! Growing them yourself also insures that pesticides were not used (they will alter the flavors), as florist trade flowers are usually sprayed and roadside flowers may be tainted with automobile fumes.

List of great edible flowers:

Alcea rosea – Hollyhock ~ Full of vitamins

Aquilegia canadensis – Columbine ~ Refreshingly sweet

Borago officinalis – Borage ~ Taste like cucumbers

Calendula officinalis – Marigolds ~ High in vitamin A & C

Campanula persicifolia – Bellflower ~ Sweet

Centaurea cyanus – Cornflower ~ Stunning garnish

Cercis canadensis – Redbud ~ Acidic in taste

Dianthus – Cheddar Pinks ~ Taste like cloves

Gladiola – Lettuce-like

Hemerocallis – Daylilies ~ Have a chestnut flavor

Hibiscus syriacus – Rose of Sharon ~ Great garnish

Nasturtiums ~ Has a peppery bite

Lavandula – Lavender ~ Clean and flowery tasting

Lonicera japonica – Japanese honeysuckle

Monarda didyma – Bee Balm ~ Minty

Oxalis corniculata – Yellow Wood Sorrel ~ Pleasant sour taste

Rosa spp. – Wild Rose ~ Petals & fruits (hips)

Sambucus canadensis – Elderberry ~ The flower clusters make a nice tea

Solidago odora – Sweet Goldenrod ~ aromatic, anise-flavored

Syringa vulgaris– Lilac ~ Sweet and fragrant

Tilia americana – Basswood ~ The leaf buds and flowers

Trifolium spp. – Clover ~ Taste like honey

Viola, spp. – Violet ~ The leaves & flowers

Care while processing the blooms:

Pick flowers right before you intend on using them, but they can be kept inside a damp paper towel in the refrigerator for a day.
Always rinse blooms gently with water and pat dry with paper towels.

What to do with your blossoms:

In addition to the fruits, squash plants provide edible blossoms. Male flowers supposedly hold the most flavor. Many find dipping them in a tempura batter or lightly sautéing them delightful.

There are also many blossoms for the salad bowl such as; nasturtiums, arugula, okra, chives, basil, marigold, fennel, mustard or bee balm. Many fruit salads benefit with pineapple sage, rose, violet, lilac or pansy blossoms.

Candied decorations are easily made by collecting roses, pansies, violets or other edible flowers. Evenly brush a light coat of lightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with superfine (not confectioners) sugar. Let dry on a bakers rack or screen and store in a tight-lidded container.

As daylilies start to fade, harvest them and place in a vegetable steamer until just wilted. Toss with a little butter and Parmesan cheese for a great appetizer.

Ice blossoms are a beautiful way to dress-up drinks and punches. Fill an ice container half-full of water and freeze. Add flowers carefully, then add a teaspoon of water on top, being careful not to move the blooms. After they freeze, fill balance of tray.

Scented sugar is easily made by layering scented geranium leaves, such as lemon, rose, chocolate or mint within a sugar bowl. Using this sugar is great in ice teas and baking.

To make a tasty spread for bread or crackers, fold calendula, nasturtium or arugula blossoms into soft butter or cream cheese.

Do you have a favorite edible flower that didn’t make this Midwestern list?

Do you have any favorite flower recipes you’d like to share?

Please leave them in the comments!!

Inclusive Wellness Garden Design

An architectural drawing of a wellness garden

Part of a wellness design — Wheelchairs parking next to bench.

An inclusive wellness garden? There’s been a lot of buzz around the word ‘inclusive’ lately. What does it mean? Well, since researching the topic, I’ve found it can mean many things! And be something that can be hard to retrain yourself to notice. You must learn how to include whatever was being excluded, in whatever their inclusive project is.

Clearly for me, it was designing gardens that are not just accessible to all, I wanted them to be inclusive to all. So if a facility is labeled accessible, doesn’t that mean its inclusive? No, it doesn’t.

photo description of wellness garden — Ideas for the Wellness Garden

Merriam-Webster defines accessible as: ‘able to be reached or entered’, which is what having an accessible entrance means. Thus, if a person who uses a wheelchair is able to get into a garden because of a ramp or a curb cut out that has been strategically placed near the entrance, that’s accessibility. A garden that is inclusive goes far beyond the basic idea of people being able to just enter it.

In an inclusive wellness garden environment, people with or without disabilities mobilize around the garden in the same way and utilize the equipment and amenities inside of the garden, equally. A garden that has accessible or adaptable equipment but isolates that activity in a corner of the garden, is not an inclusive garden. A garden that has no plants that smell or no auditory additions is not an inclusive garden (to the blind). I think you get the point, however when you’re able to walk, hear and see, these things can get overlooked.

Here’s some things to think about when designing a inclusive garden:

No steps allowed. All elevation changes need to be addressed with ramps (grades not to exceed 5%).
Paths need to be wide enough for two people to walk arm in arm. A four foot minimum width.
Dead end paths: Need enough turnaround space for wheelchairs (5 feet), however avoid them in memory care facilities, as it can disorient and confuse some folks.
Paths should be made of a foot/wheel friendly material. Concrete, limestone, rotten granite and stone pavers are great choices. Pavers will require maintenance to stop them from becoming a trip hazard.
Nut or berry trees should not be over any paths to alleviate other trip hazards.
Clearly, path lighting is helpful to all.
Creating a curb on the paths help let the blind know where the edges of the path are.
Adding a railing along the path can allow folks that need stability walking some alone time in the garden.
Include plants that smell, sound and feel good, not just look good.
Adding other garden features can fill the gap for unrepresented senses like sound (plants aren’t that loud) such as: fountains, wind-chimes, mason bee houses, garden art and bird feeders to enjoy their songs.
Attracting friendly wildlife is both beneficial for the animal and for the observer. Providing pollinators, birds and other garden animals a home is truly inclusive.
Don’t use pesticides at all! If required, use integrated pest management for timed applications to not harm beneficial insects/animals.
Provide seating (both benches and chairs), however leave space in the same location for a wheelchair to park.
Evaluate plants by garden purpose. If in doubt, only use edible plants that are safe to handle.
Some well placed seasonal planters can bring excitement into the garden, even in winter!
Add some raised beds into the design to allow for folks who can’t bend down to have the flowers attainable. (24” high is an acceptable height).
Raised beds being used for therapy need to be manufactured at height of 36″. In addition, add a kick-plate to allow standing at the bed more comfortable.
Easy pull-type handled water spigots should beinstalled, not round knobs that are hard to grasp.
Lastly, it’s important to have shade, water and restrooms available nearby.

Please add any thoughts or challenges you have had either while visiting a garden or perhaps designing one to be an inclusive wellness garden.