Senior citizen gardeners might start thinking, "What the hell, I'm planting tropicals this year. Life is short, summer is short--I'm going for tulips bulbs and annuals." But you might want to choose some of your favorite perennials or even trees, as you could very well beat the average life span.

To encourage my clients to spend time tending their gardens, I have argued both the therapeutic and the health benefits, as I tell them, "For anyone over 30, gardening counts as exercise."

A book coming out in April 2008, Gardening Your Way to Health and Fitness by Bunny Guinness and Jacqueline Knox claims that you can burn over 300 an hour by gardening. That's about a third more than an hour of pilates or yoga. But you don't have to forego these favorites, as the book gives pilates exercises for gardeners. (I do love pilates. In Buenos Aires, they've developed tango-lates, or pilates for tango dancers. Could there be a garden-lates? A core strength course developed specifically for gardeners?) The Timber Press website states: "Step-by-step sequences based on the Pilates method illustrate the safe way to push wheelbarrows, lift heavy pots, pick low-lying fruit, and much more in a way that boosts fitness benefits while avoiding stresses and strains.

Another recently published book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, makes the claim that exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain. Exercise stimulates the production of proteins that are known as growth factors, and these promote the growth of brain cells and synapses. As well, deterioration in the brain is often caused by disruptions to the cardiovascular system by microstrokes. Exercise may help prevent these. To read more on this go to US News. US News

So while a case of carpel tunnel might by unavoidable as you hit triple digits, gardening may keep Alzheimer's at bay.

So Sweet Pink Tulips by Organic Bouquet

Valentine's Day is coming up on us quickly. While there's nothing more wonderful than getting flowers in February, you really don't want to give the person you love a bunch of roses from Colombia or Ecuador--and chances are higher than 50% that most of the cut flowers you find here are. According to the World Health Organization many of the chemicals used on farms in Colombia were classified as toxic "extremely" or "highly" toxic. So not only do you not want your loved one inhaling those toxins, but there's a big toll on the workers on these farms and the surrounding environment.

Fortunately, there are lots of other options.

Go to Fair Trade Certified Flowers to find local vendors who sell flowers that are grown with guidelines for worker safety and environmental standards.

You can always go Local
Check out your closest flower farm here and if you're feeling very certain about your relationship, you can even sign up for a fresh flower share of a CSA for the gift that keeps on giving...

For organic options try:

California Organic Flowers

Manic Organic Flowers

Diamond Organics

Organic Bouquet

Horse Stables at Rancho Santa Emilia near San Miguel de Allende

Luis Barragàn cited Mexican provinces as his inspiration, stating in his Pritzker Architecture Prize acceptance speech, "For me the lessons contained in the traditional architecture of the Mexican provinces have been my permanent source of inspiration: their white-washed walls; the tranquility of their courtyards and kitchen gardens; the color of their streets and the humble majesty of their squares surrounded by shady porches."

It was his use of color that made Luis Barragàn an internationally known architect. He adapted the colors of the pueblo, or the people- pinatas, their streamers all hot colors- fuchsia, sapphire blue, carnival reds; fruit and vegetable markets, the sweet and musky scents of fruits emanate from the mounds of purple, red, green, orange and yellow.

In his acceptance of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1980, Luis Barragàn called it "alarming" that publications devoted to architecture seemed to have banished the words, "Beauty, Inspiration, Magic, Spellbound, Enchantment, as well as the concepts of Serenity, Silence, Intimacy and Amazement."

Plaza, San Miguel

In her poem, "Evening Plaza, San Miguel" Muriel Rukeyser writes:

"Like the birds falling among the trees, like music
As the trees close, and the cathedral closes.
No one will know who in a stranger land
Has never stood while night came down
In shadows of roses, a cloud of tree-drawn birds,
And said, "I must go home."

The courtyard at PS1 is famous for hosting weekend dance parties for the post art-school crowds. The museum has recently announce the winning firm, Work Architecture, who will design the courtyard for this summer. They are going to be installing a working vegetable farm in cardboard tubes that will rise above the party area. They hope to even sell crops at a farmer's market.

According to wine maker Robert Herald, who will be teaching a class in backyard and rooftop winemaking at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden says that twelve 5 gallon pots makes 5 gallons of wine. Maybe PS1 should start their own label.

Mizue Sawano
February 14 - March 15, 2008

Gerald Peters Gallery, New York
24 East 78th Street New York, NY 10021
TEL 212 628-9760 FAX 212.628.9635
Hours: Monday- Saturday 10am - 5pm

First, I purchased glass containers. The small globe is from Sprout Home, the square bowl is from Jamali Garden Supplies and the darker glass is hand blown by artisans in San Miguel de Allende.

I purchased some of the smallest plants I could find, including Oxalis, Maiden Hair Fern, Evergemiensis Fern, a Red Vein Fittonia, and some moss. (At this point you might be noting that my plants are a little big for my glass containers. I wasn't yet aware of this.)

Here, I've added way too many pebbles. I then added to much charcoal, and by the time I added the soil mixed with a little sphagnum moss, it was too deep. So I had to go back and take out the soil, remove some charcoal, and some pebbles.

Almost all the plants I bought were too big to fit into the globe, so I ended up filling it with moss and a few oxalis.

The ferns, moss, Fittonia, and Oxalis are essentially crammed into these. They aren't the tropical landscapes I was hoping for. Though, I kind of like them; I felt a Victorian Era-type fetish of wanting to cram all of my plants into glass jars...

But next time I make a terrarium, it will be with little plants and big containers.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

While some people are rifling through garden catalogues in anticipation of spring, others are planting indoors to satisfy their need to feel dirt. But this is a great time to travel and there are lots of botanical gardens that offer gardening internships that include housing.

New York City based garden designer Paula de la Cruz, principal of Allscape Design
traveled to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa.

She wrote: "I am now someone who knows how to pollinate birds of paradise with a porcupine quill. It's something I learned during a three-month internship at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, in Cape Town, South Africa, last fall. But while I'd traveled halfway around the world from New York to learn technique, I'm also fascinated by a good story. This is the legend that goes with the local birds of paradise: Sunbirds used to eat the Zulu people's crops, so an angry god transformed them into flowers. Now, when the birds of paradise look at the sun, tears of nectar run down their stalks from where their eyes would be--and new sunbirds flock to them, making meals of their sorrow." Visit her website Allscape Design
, and click on "Publications" to see the full article.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Here's Paula's list of places to get your gardening fix:

The Eden Project
Cornwall, United Kingdom
Little tells you that this haven of sustainable ecology started as a china clay pit. Interns and volunteers learn the codes for ecologically correct practices while working with 100,000 plants in the largest conservatory garden on Earth. Just don't try to prune the stately pomegranate tree that Prince Charles planted in 2001, or the bobbies might come for you.
Telephone: +44 (0)1726 811911

Hillwood Museum and Gardens
Washington D.C., US
Improve your civic education while grooming the "outdoor rooms" of this pleasure garden. Marjorie Merriweather Post purchased the estate in 1955 and used it mostly to entertain. There is a putting green that is still maintained to perfection where Mrs. Post allowed her guests to putt, but she mostly used to exercise. This beautiful Washington D.C. oasis gives it a new meaning to power mini golf.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Fort Bragg, California, U.S.
This is the only botanical garden in the continental US where you can tend to the plants while gazing at the ocean. The 43-acre cliffside garden welcomes volunteers and, offers housing to unpaid interns from around the world, from three months to a year. The unique foggy, cool summers, allow the gardens to grow the rare Rhododendron macabeanum from the Indian Himalayas, but alas no chardonnay vines.

Le Jardin Exotique de Monaco Montecarlo, Monaco
Just a moped's ride away from Cannes, this vertical rock garden lets experienced horticultural interns work its three-acre rock walls of cactus, in a micro-microclimate created by the Mediterranean sun heating up the rock. Here, the exotica is a dragon tree and a prehistoric calcareous cave, while regular fare is a good bouillabaisse after a hard day of gardening.
Telephone: +377 93 15 29 80

Ayrlies, Auckland, New Zealand
This privately owned garden is open to the public by appointment only. The renowned garden photographer Alain Le Toquin has called it "the most beautiful private garden in the world." The estate was designed by Beverley McConnell to follow the contours of the land. If its 30 acres prove too constraining for your horticultural curiosity, botanize through New Zealand's 26,000 square miles of natural forest.
Telephone: +64 9 530 8706

Weed Eater

The latest issue of Saveur
features their 10th annual Top 100 list of their favorite foods, restaurants, drinks, people, places and things. One great selection that caught my eye is a short article on Edible Weeds by Mei Chin. She learned how to forage edible weeds as a child, and now as an adult she steams and sautés young dandelion leaves with bacon to "temper their astringency". She writes "I infuse pickle brines with the licorice-like perfume of wild fennel flowers and add the plant's wispy leaves to my Chinese dumplings. Chickweed, whose flavor is reminiscent of beet greens', makes an excellent addition to salad, as does lemony sorrel. The topmost sprouts of the stinging nettles, which as the plant's name suggests, are tricky to collect, reward the diligent forager with a velvety texture when they're pureed into soups. Lacy-leafed yarrow makes a fragrant, soothing tea..."

Unfortunately, the full article isn't up on the web, but the issue should be out on the newsstands.

Mother Earth News has recently reprinted an article from 1971, where editors from Home Garden's grew a 10 x 20 foot garden with seeds that cost less than $10.00. They figure that a person or family can eat fresh produce for six months with this. It's fun to read, but their vegetable list shows how far we've come. They grew two types of tomatoes: Burpee's VF and cherry tomato-Basket Pak. They also had zucchini, cucumbers, beets, radishes, endive, onions, lettuce and for seasoning cress and parsley. These vegetables seem so modest and earnest compared to what people are doing now.

In contrast, a week or so ago the Los Angeles Times ran an article, Yellow Strawberries and Pink Pumpkins about produce grown in small or urban spaces. The Los Angeles area urban farmers they mentioned were growing large-leaf mâché, Italian wild arugula, yellow alpine strawberry, not to mention the herb mentuccia, and the Italian vegetable agretti; and it's not longer just cucumbers, but rather Green Fingers Persian baby cucumber.

I imagine the seeds cost more than $10.00, but it's a great trajectory that we're on...

There's a great article and slideshow in theL.A. Times
about a hidden garden that sounds like it's being disassembled. Here's a pull quote on one of the men who installed it:

Saturday morning I went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to take a course with Robert Herold on planting a backyard vineyard. When I arrived, I was terribly disappointed to find out that the class had been canceled. The security guard suggested that I assuage my disappointment by checking out the gardens. (He probably used different words and he had a charming West Indies accent, but I can't remember how he phrased it now.)
If I had cross-country skis, and if they allowed it, this would have been the perfect activity. The snow-covered grounds were so open and flawless. They were also inspiring for spring plantings. When the garden fever hits, everyone visits the gardens and then wants lilacs, cherry trees and quince bushes. But this time of year, when plump thrushes are feeding in the winterberry trees, and the evergreens and witchhazels are really shining, a person has to rethink their planting.
At one point, a young hawk flew right over my head. It reminded me of when I tried to teach myself how to cross country ski one early spring in Alaska. I found some old skis in the shed of the cabin I was renting and headed to a hillside. The snow had a slick, icy coating and I fell over and over. At one point, while sprawled out, I looked up and saw two bald eagles and two hawks circling above me. At first I considered it majestic, until I realized that they thought I was an injured mammal and were waiting for me to go down for good.

Master Gardeners hotline ready to open

The Examiner

On Saturday, the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City will open its gardening Hotline at 816-833-TREE (8733). The Hotline, staffed by volunteer Master Gardeners, is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 31.

Master Gardeners are available to answer your gardening questions. In 2007, the Hotline fielded 2,324 gardening calls from area residents.

For more information on the Master Gardener Program, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 816-252-5051.

From staff reports

Manhattan Users Guide

Herbs

February 27, 2008

As the Dar Williams lyric goes: "February was so long that it lasted into March." This morning, an herbal tonic.

Angelica is among the 130 herbs, plants, and flowers said to be in the secret formula of Chartreuse, the liqueur made by Carthusian monks. It may not be fashionable, but we'd never face winter without a bottle nearby.

Basil is the basis of The Nibble's quest to find perfect pesto from among 100 brands tasted.

Borage seeds are available from Nichols Garden Nursery. Leaves can be used in salads, sauteed, and they make the perfect gin and tonic garnish.

Calendula is the herb of the year, so give it up for calendula! The honor is bestowed by the International Herb Association. Calendula is often used in a cream to soothe skin; Neal's Yard makes our favorite.

Chamomile Lip Balm from Bigelow does yeoman's anti-chap service.

Chervil, as well as dill and cilantro, are the spring herbs discussed during a cooking demonstration at Wave Hill on May 9th, 11am.

Dill and Coriander are the two stars of one of Aquavit's aquavits. The restaurant's version has it with Crown Dill, which is dill harvested after blossoming.

Epazote, sometimes called Indian Tea, is much used in Latin cooking. The strong herb, compared often to cilantro, is available dried from Penzeys in Grand Central. The Perfect Pantry says, "I'm not a cilantro person but I love epazote, which to me tastes a bit like citrus and mint (I've also heard the taste described as petroleum or turpentine)" and notes that it grows wild in Central Park.

Fennel oil is applied to grilled whole fish at that jewel Prune, 54 E. 1st St. [1/2] 212.677.6221.

Lavender and honey make up one of the excellent gelatos from il Laboratorio del Gelato, 95 Orchard [Broome/Delancey] 212.343.9922.

Lemon basil is one of the scented candles by Voluspa at Adrien Linford, 927 Mad [73rd/74th] 212.628.4500, and many other retailers.

Lemon verbena, aka verveine, makes a sprightly tea, especially from Harney & Sons.

Oregano is used to ideal effect in the Pollo Scarpariello at Via Oreto, 1121 1st [61st/62nd] 212.308.0828, prepared by the Sicilian mother-and-son team here. It's a half chicken cut into pieces, baked with olive oil, oregano, lemon, and garlic.

Rosemary essential oil is available from Kalustyans, 123 Lex [28th/29th] 212.685.3451.

Sage, combined with potato, garlic, brussels sprouts, and fontina, are the ingredients in the pizzocheri pasta (buckwheat tagliatelle) found at dell'anima, 38 8th [Jane/W. 12th] 212.366.6633.

Thyme, combined with orange peels, is infused into a dark chocolate ganache by masterful chocolate-maker Pierre Marcolini, 485 Park [58th] 212.755.5150.

The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden has opened and will run until April 6th.

If you like colorful flowers, it's a good show. But if you're really into orchids, it's not so exciting. The ones in the show are pretty, but that's about it. They don't evoke the seductive nature of these flowers. Out in the wild, the wood orchid quivers for motion-sensitive nocturnal creatures. The devious dragon orchid of Australia mimics the shape and scent of a female thynnid wasp so that the male wasp, attempting to mate, pollinates it. The orchids at the NYBG show are pretty standard Cattleyas and Phalaenopsis. There's not much cross-species hanky panky going on here. To get to the main installation, you walk through a series of arches adorned with orchids that look like huppas at Jewish weddings. Also, not so evocative.

By contrast, in the past the Orchid Show held at the Rockefeller Center showcased work by orchid breeders, an obsessed crowd who cultivate the strange, the smelly and the unique. I loved my first glimpse of the Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis, a large plant with huge leaves drooping to the floor. Its blooms are hairy, have a muddy red color, and curve like claws. They also smell like hot, dirty garbage. Imagine all the pollinators they have out in the wild.

Unfortunately, the Rockefeller Center show won't be taking place this year. Out at the NYBG, you can always veer off from the orchid show and wander through the marvelous moss room and stop and check out the man-eating plants.