No matter where we are in the world, gardening is on most people’s minds, these days. It’s a busy time, a time full of dreams and aching body parts.
If in the Southern Hemisphere, you might be preparing to put the garden to bed, dreaming of next year and what else you would like to include in your garden’s array of plants, trees, blossoms, herbs and vegetables.
In the Northern Hemisphere, potting plants, augmenting the soil, choosing the vegetables, herbs and flowering plants you want this year to grace your spot of land, and reading about the latest and best methods to garden may be taking up quite a bit of your time.
On one of these fine days or evenings, put together a picnic for the family or a couple of friends. The simpler, the better. Let it be spontaneous, just for fun – a “Why not!” Head out to a green space, whether it’s your backyard, a local botanical garden area, down by the creek, up into the woods, or in a meadow you drive by often but have never stopped to explore. Throw down a blanket and enjoy each other’s company in the company of wild things from trees and grasses to birds and butterflies.
Getting To Know Our Neighbours: 
Lacewings, bumble bees, honey bees, mason bees, yellow jackets, assassin bugs and parasitic wasps are some of the “good” bugs for our gardens. They eat “bad” bugs like scale insects and aphids, and help pollinate plants. The ladybug (a.k.a. ladybirds, lady beetles, lady cows and lady flies) are the most recognizable and to most people, the most charming of these good bugs.
There are over 5,000 kinds of ladybug, 450 of which reside in North America. Most are orange, yellow or deep red in colour with black legs, head and antennae, ranging in size from 1 mm to 10 mm. They have black spots on their wing covers or back. These spots fade as the ladybug gets older. Another interesting fact is that the ladybug, when flying, beats its wings 85 times a second
Lacewings, bumble bees, honey bees, mason bees, yellow jackets, assassin bugs and parasitic wasps are some of the “good” bugs for our gardens. They eat “bad” bugs like scale insects and aphids, and help pollinate plants. The ladybug (a.k.a. ladybirds, lady beetles, lady cows and lady flies) are the most recognizable and to most people, the most charming of these good bugs.
There are over 5,000 kinds of ladybug, 450 of which reside in North America. Most are orange, yellow or deep red in colour with black legs, head and antennae, ranging in size from 1 mm to 10 mm. They have black spots on their wing covers or back. These spots fade as the ladybug gets older. Another interesting fact is that the ladybug, when flying, beats its wings 85 times a second
Females are larger than males and lay about 1,000 in a life time. Infertile eggs are laid beside the fertile eggs as insurance that the newly hatched larvae have sufficient food. The eggs look like yellow spots and can be seen attached to foliage or structures in the garden, usually close to "food".
The larva is rather ugly and could be mistaken for yet another bug to rid the garden of, but with patience, this creature will develop into a friendly, helpful and loveable garden friend, like the parents. (http://www.alive.com/6142a15a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=606)
A Fact Or Two: 
There are gardens everywhere – on top of apartment buildings, in tiny backyards, in a couple of pots on a windowsill or on a porch, in community designated areas, out on farmers’ fields and in vacant lots in the inner cities. These all add up to a large and important area of green sustainable living.
Green gardening means not using harmful pesticides, broad-spectrum insecticides and artificial fertilizers, as well as preserving heritage seeds, caring for the soil, reusing and recycling as much as possible, and providing a safe place for wildlife.
A green garden can help reduce the impact of climate change on a property.
Plants native to the area require less care and encourage good bugs to stay.
Good bugs like to make home in a mixed garden of vegetables, fruit and flowering plants.
It takes about 1,000 years for the Earth to produce 2.5 cm 91 inch) of top soil.
Rather than digging up the garden, spread manure and compost over it and let the earthworms take the nutrients down deep into the soil.
Organic mulches biodegrade and add to the soil structure, as well as help prevent weeds, stop soil erosion and save water by reducing water evaporation from the soil.
By using drought resistant plants, we save on the use of water.
Save time and water by checking weather reports before watering the garden.
If you provide the food, water, shelter and space wildlife need to survive, you can apply to the Canadian Wildlife Federation for backyard certification. Check it out at http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/
http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/ also provides a Seasonal Gardening Guide and can help in the selection of the perfect plants for our gardens.
What Can We Do?
There are gardens everywhere – on top of apartment buildings, in tiny backyards, in a couple of pots on a windowsill or on a porch, in community designated areas, out on farmers’ fields and in vacant lots in the inner cities. These all add up to a large and important area of green sustainable living.
Green gardening means not using harmful pesticides, broad-spectrum insecticides and artificial fertilizers, as well as preserving heritage seeds, caring for the soil, reusing and recycling as much as possible, and providing a safe place for wildlife.
A green garden can help reduce the impact of climate change on a property.
Plants native to the area require less care and encourage good bugs to stay.
Good bugs like to make home in a mixed garden of vegetables, fruit and flowering plants.
It takes about 1,000 years for the Earth to produce 2.5 cm 91 inch) of top soil.
Rather than digging up the garden, spread manure and compost over it and let the earthworms take the nutrients down deep into the soil.
Organic mulches biodegrade and add to the soil structure, as well as help prevent weeds, stop soil erosion and save water by reducing water evaporation from the soil.
By using drought resistant plants, we save on the use of water.
Save time and water by checking weather reports before watering the garden.
If you provide the food, water, shelter and space wildlife need to survive, you can apply to the Canadian Wildlife Federation for backyard certification. Check it out at http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/
http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/ also provides a Seasonal Gardening Guide and can help in the selection of the perfect plants for our gardens.
What Can We Do?
Maybe there are a few of you out there feeling like me right now – sore, really sore. Lately, my body has been screaming at me to remember to stretch after I’ve been out in the garden. Something I always forget to do until it’s too late. By evening I’m so stiff and achy that the simple act of bending over to pat my dog has me moaning. To not do what I do, here are some simple stretching exercises for gardeners.
http://www.shelterpub.com/_fitness/_stretching/gardening.html
http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/stretch.htm
Media:
Articles: Beneficial Bugs in the Garden
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/pest-meet-predator
5 Simple Pest Remedies for the Garden
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/yard-garden-5-home-remedies.html
How to Make a Butterfly Garden
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/create-your-own-butterfly-garden
http://www.shelterpub.com/_fitness/_stretching/gardening.html
http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/stretch.htm
Media:
Articles: Beneficial Bugs in the Garden
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/pest-meet-predator
5 Simple Pest Remedies for the Garden
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/yard-garden-5-home-remedies.html
How to Make a Butterfly Garden
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/create-your-own-butterfly-garden
Composting 101
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/composting-101
5 Ways to Love Trees
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-ways-to-show-trees-the-love.html
Videos: This is the “Let’s Do It” Campaign in Estonia. It’s inspirational.
http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3683
Caroles sends this message, “Have to show you this. Please check it out.”
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte
Caroles from Greece can inspire all parents, grandparents and friends of children. She writes: “My grandson, Adam, and I planted strawberry plants two yrs ago - he loves me for gardening… At 5 now, he knows weeds and seeds. For the last 2-3 yrs., he and I weed together. We call it 'walking grass'...as the grass wants to spread into the flower beds in Burlington, Ontario. The rabbits eat the strawberries, so, he and his dad are considering ways of protecting the fruit, but Adam's happy the rabbits have food."
Rogues Gallery
Caroles has sent us photos from her garden with these comments, "Amazing beauty, awesome workload for just one day of glory! The flowers are all wilted, this, the next day of the sequence, not shown here."
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/composting-101
5 Ways to Love Trees
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-ways-to-show-trees-the-love.html
Videos: This is the “Let’s Do It” Campaign in Estonia. It’s inspirational.
http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3683
Caroles sends this message, “Have to show you this. Please check it out.”
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte
Caroles from Greece can inspire all parents, grandparents and friends of children. She writes: “My grandson, Adam, and I planted strawberry plants two yrs ago - he loves me for gardening… At 5 now, he knows weeds and seeds. For the last 2-3 yrs., he and I weed together. We call it 'walking grass'...as the grass wants to spread into the flower beds in Burlington, Ontario. The rabbits eat the strawberries, so, he and his dad are considering ways of protecting the fruit, but Adam's happy the rabbits have food."
Rogues Gallery
Caroles has sent us photos from her garden with these comments, "Amazing beauty, awesome workload for just one day of glory! The flowers are all wilted, this, the next day of the sequence, not shown here."
Next week, Katie, The Answer Lady will be back with answers to your questions. She will also tell us about her research work in Alaska and provide photos, too.
Earth Family First,
maureen
(Photos from Google Images)
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