Wright Scoop Selects David Austin Roses as Plants of Care

Across the Nation, climatic shifts occur. Challenging all to identify plants that enable eco sustainable urban suburban landscapes. As a result, David Austin roses are identified as "plants of Care" for their eco sustainable characteristics; specifically, for an ability to connect people to living green that surrounds them.

 

Identified by artist gardener Louise Odell Blanks Cochrane as a component of her gardening palette, David Austin roses were installed as focal points for her landscape view, the barn at Walnut Hill.

 

Through combining an artist eye with the skills of landscape gardening, she positioned complimentary gardens and the barn as an aesthetic view from her home’s front porch. To hear Louise tell her story, link and view video ‘The Barn at Walnut Hill, old inspires new’.

Why David Austin roses? In the early 1950s David Austin, www.davidaustinroses.com, set out to create a more beautiful rose. From a hobby breeder as a young teenager Austin has gone on to breed a collection of roses renowned across the world. All have beautiful blooms and in most cases wonderful fragrance held on graceful attractive shrubs. A garden of these outstanding roses is hard to beat for sheer exuberance of flower and fragrance. What makes these plants different? They flourish in multiple climate zones, and through vibrant characteristics, have intrigued gardeners such as Louise Odell Blanks Cochrane nation-wide. As a result, Austin’s roses are selected as "Plants of Care." To learn about other selected plants, link to blog Plants of CARE.

Plants of Care, plant recognition program –

Whether an experienced landscape professional or novice homeowner, Wright’s eco-education program challenges all to not simple identify plants that survive but thrive; and then, create landscapes from a sustainable point of view: move landscapes from eco-weak to eco-chic one scoop at time. For, any style landscape should not simply reflect traditional design concepts but be a result of the right plant, installed in the right place at the right (optimal) planting season - creating a legacy of green, healthier urban/suburban communities. Why? The challenge for 21st century landscape gardeners is to create landscapes from a 'waste not, and want not' eco-sustainable commitment: become caretakers for their environmental community.

About the Wright Scoop –

Spotlighted by Landscape Architect magazine as an Industry "mover and shaker," the Wright Scoop urges all to become people who care - have a perspective of conservation, accountability, recovery and eco-efficiency. As founder of the Plants of Care plant recognition program, she challenges all to select and install plants that work-well in their region. Wright has blog for Build Green TV and provides speeches and workshops for national and international conferences such as the All Cities Congressional City Conference held in DC and PLANET’s Green Industry Conference held at Louisville, Kentucky. So, please take a few moments and view picture video and hear a reading from Landscape Gardening with CARE which features sustainable plantings; and for tips and strategies to ‘grow green’ your community, visit Sylvia’s store or to view other details of her activities, visit web site www.TheWrightScoop.com  or follow Wright’s activities through Facebook group The Wright Scoop or twitter ID WrightScoop.

Side-bar:

David Austin Roses, Bowling Green Lane, Albrighton Wolverhampton WV7 3HB

Telephone:  +44 (0) 1902 376334

Email: plantcentre@davidaustinroses.co.uk

*video/photographer - Glenn Lock TachLock Group www.tachlock.com & Mark Bare Artography www.markbarephotography.com

Wright Scoop Identifies 2016 Plants, Products, Services of CARE

Across the Nation, climatic shift occurs, challenging all to identify eco sustainable plants, products and services that enable greening their urban suburban landscapes. For the summer of 2016, the Wright Scoop recognizes ‘Mock Orange’ and ‘Ecological Footprint’ for their eco sustainable characteristics.

Mock Orange –

For introducing a stunning citrus fragrance in the garden, you can’t go wrong with Mock Orange shrub (Philadelphus virginalis). This late spring-blooming deciduous bush looks great when placed in a border, used in groups as screening or simply as stand-alone specimen plants. Though it’s not a true orange, its name is derived from the fragrant white flowers which in some varieties are thought to resemble that of orange blossoms. Mock orange shrubs are hardy in Zones 4-8. They enjoy areas with full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Adding compost to the soil will help improve most issues.

 

Mock orange bushes come in many varieties, ranging in height from 4-8 feet or more. For its heirloom qualities and ability to naturalize an environment, plant ‘Mock Orange’ ‘is recognized as a ‘Plants of CARE’, July of 2016. For those who do not have the privilege of hosting such a plant, it is available through vendors such as Monrovia, www.monrovia.com .

Ecological Footprint -

How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle? Take a quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth.  While some of each person's Ecological Footprint is dependent upon individual choices they make in their own life, some of it is also their per person share of their societies' infrastructure. The first part can be influenced directly.

On the other hand, the second part is equally critical to living within the means of one planet, but must be influenced through more indirect action such as political engagement, green technology and innovation, and other work toward large-scale social change. To identify your eco impact, participate in an activity such as ecological footprint, www.footprintnetwork.org,

About the Wright Scoop –

Spotlight by Landscape Architect magazine as an Industry ‘mover and shaker’, the Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright urges all to become people who CARE - have a perspective of conservation, accountability, recovery and eco-efficiency. As founder of the Plants, Product & Services of Care programs, Wright challenges all to select and use plants/products/services that work-well in their region. For details of her programs, link to Plants of CARE, http://wrightscoop.blogspot.com/2015/12/plants-of-care-plant-recognition-program.html and Product/Services of CARE, http://wrightscoop.blogspot.com/2015/12/products-of-care-eco-sustainable.html Or, link to web site www.TheWrightScoop.com  or view video Landscape Gardening with CARE - https://youtu.be/ENPhCg9QQNc   or contact Sylvia@TheWrightScoop.com .  

 

Clean-Waters, a national not regional problem

Riding on storm waters, mud, ‘house’ trash and urban/suburban fertilizers saturate central Virginia’s wetlands. For, during a time when you would think Chesapeake Bay regulation and consumer educational activities should be more effective, pollution abounds. So, how did this outcome occur?

affect of run-off fertilizers

 

Perhaps, we have become too comfortable with statistics that indicate ‘clean water’ progression. Or, we failed to continue consumer educational activities, media public relations and/or other eco educational opportunities. Or, the Industry itself is too complacent in its self-regulation. On the other hand, Virginians for example do have benefit of numerous programs and guidelines provided by its state colleges, VA Tech and VA State as well as other regional programs.

In my area – Henrico County Virginia, the community has benefit of a free lawn care seminar as well as a ‘SMART’ lawn program. There is also an active ‘creek restoration’ program, link to an article published by the Times Dispatch, http://www.richmond.com/news/local/henrico/article_d1f9f33b-0040-57f4-8ef3-562f244b6d37.html. Impacting a creek that feeds into my wet-land, the outcome is questionable.

 

Prior to restoration, the County estimated approximately 100 tons (10 dumps trucks) of sediment eroded from the stream banks and bottom of the stream every year. Having occurred during the timeframe of November 2015 to May 2016, one of the heaviest rainfall seasons on record, recipient wetlands received not cloudy but an ongoing flow of mucky waters which appears to be equivalent to 2 or 3 prior year annual erosions. So, as stated in the published article such projects should be viewed as phase I, not stand-alone.

 

And, specific to state of Virginia conservation and recreation programs, while there are TIPS for keeping your lawn green and Virginia’s water clean, I question why pollution continues to saturate my property’s wetland!

So, the first question is ‘is this outcome unique to the Greater Richmond area, regional or nation-wide?’ Then, depending on the answer, those who are affected need to take a hard look at their eco programs and activities, identify short-comings, and plan a different result. For examples, use cover crops to provide nitrogen for a next season’s garden space, a soil test to determine nutrient additives per gardening installation, and planting strategies that avoid disturbing soil nearby feeder-creeks, lakes/ponds and rivers. Use compost to selectively enrich soil, and edge planting areas to avoid nutrient run-off. In other words, landscape garden using a 6 Ps strategy: place – determine outdoor use in terms of its exposure, plant – identify plant materials that support the identified use, planting strategies – install plants during their optimal installation season, purchase – acquire buy-local plants identified to work-well in your area, become people who make eco-sustainable commitments and create prosperity, an eco-legacy of healthy green.

As gardeners, we not only have the opportunity to make a difference through personal choices but can influence others through our use of green space, both rural and urban. For additional tips and strategies, visit www.TheWrightScoop.com.

The Value of Trees

From the perspective of a central Virginia homeowner, I'd hope the fall of 2011 would remain a once in a life time experience. Although familiar with environmental havoc created by storms, when the force of storm Irene quit, Greater Richmond Area residents were greeted with litter of fallen trees; in fact, more than 70% of the area experienced utility outages. So, when a recent un-named storm left 75% of the county in which I reside, Henrico with utility outages and fallen trees, it was woefully  familiar.

 

Still, as my ‘dig in the dirt’ colleague Luke McCall, an arborist with the City of Richmond says, “Too often, trees are taken for granted or simply considered disposable to our modern lives. If the value of trees is not shared with the public, there will be no demand to preserve for the present and provide for the future.”

 

 As a result, research shared by Virginia Tech indicates one tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions. Urban forests are recognized to reduce urban air temperatures significantly by shading heat sinks such as buildings and concrete; and returning humidity to the air through evaporative cooling. Properly placed deciduous trees reduce house temperatures in the summer, allowing air conditioning units to run 2 to 4 percent more efficiently, but allow the sun to warm the house in the winter. Homes sheltered by evergreen windbreaks reduce winter heat loss and are generally warmer than homes without such protection. By using trees to modify temperatures and protect against wind, the amount of fossil fuels used for cooling and heating is reduced.

Urban trees are also recognized to provide economic benefits to communities. They improve water quality, mitigate storm-water runoff, conserve energy, lower air temperatures, reduce air pollution, and enhance property values. The total compensatory value of urban forests in the continental United States is estimated at $2.4 trillion, according to the U.S. Forest Service. But this resource is ongoing threatened by urban development as well as environmental havoc created by shifts in climate change.

Urban arborist such as my colleague Luke or a Certified Horticulturist professional at your local nursery/garden center can help select a tree that is not only right for your needs but grown to industry standards. For, trees, grown to established nursery standards, are more resistant to disease and pests, and do provide the best return on your investment. So, familiarize your self with planting options; visit for example, the Virginia Department of Forestry web site .

While you may tend to react to the havoc – litter of fallen trees – created by a tropical storm with fear, understand a better choice is to plant and maintain an urban canopy of trees. “Truly, our greatest responsibility as citizens and natural resource professionals,” says Luke “is our obligation to provide future generations with a world greener and cleaner than we found it. Planting a tree is one the best ways to accomplish that goal.”

As gardeners, we not only have the opportunity to make a difference through personal choices but influence others through our use of green space, both rural and urban. For additional eco tips and strategies, visit web site www.TheWrightScoop.com.

Garden Art, eco-chic style

Are you searching for a unique piece of art to give as a gift or accent your garden? Garden art should be more than a reflection of individual personality or simply add uniqueness to a space. It should make a ‘greening’ statement: be eco-chic, a statement of how you feel about the environment, itself.

 

                                Laurel Gallery, Buy-local, support made in America garden art

 

 

Eco-chic garden art is a result of applying the ‘R’ strategy: recycle, reuse or refurbish. While there is the alternative of visiting a local flea market where aged items can be purchased; another option, especially for those who feel they are less creative, is to solicit pieces of visual folk art designed by well-known artists.

 

For central Virginia, artist Matt Cross located in Old Church is recognized for his ability to create eco-chic treasures from “another man’s trash.” All of Matt’s creations are made from found or recycled objects and material, which together with a hand-painted finish, add whimsy and make each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Matt’s style referred to as Self-taught Art or Outsider Art, includes paintings, sculptures as well as carvings that creatively represent a sense of environmental stewardship.

 

At one time, this form of art was kept out of the main-stream art community but presently, is recognized as one of the more important visual art cultures that America has produced. Still, visual folk art, typically produced in the South, should not be confused with country crafts, duck decoys or split-cane baskets. It is a highly personal, or as in Matt’s case representative of his stewardship commitment, form of art. In general, it is produced by untrained people who draw on their cultural experiences and a true, untutored, creative passion.

 

In addition to identifying specific artists, visit a gallery or garden shop that specializes in eco-chic garden art. For example, located at the cross roads of Hungry and old Stapes Mill Roads in Laurel Historic District, for the Greater Richmond Area (GRA) Laurel Gallery’s ‘outdoor gallery’ is an excellent choice. This gallery features American-made art for your yard. Emphasizing ‘buy-local’, the site is a quaint blend of 19th century historical and 21st century art.

 

While Matt's art is available in galleries and shops in Virginia, North Carolina and Vermont, if possible, schedule a visit to his studio located in Old Church. For details of Matt’s folk art, call him 804-779-2502. Or, stop by a gallery that specializes in eco garden art. Acquire an understanding why artists and writers alike chose such sites to display their American-made works of art.

 

When searching for a special piece of art, why not select a piece that not only makes you smile but is a ‘greening’ statement? As gardeners, we not only have opportunities to make a difference through personal choices but can influence others to create an eco-legacy of healthy green space, both rural and urban – as Matt says, “make a statement that represents how we feel about the environment, itself.” To identify additional eco tips and strategies, visit web site TheWrightScoop.

Earth Day, enable a safe place in which to live

Across the Nation and around the world, communities ask “Is there a safe place to live?”

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Daily, we awaken to the consequences of severe weather patterns. In fact, U.S.A Today newspaper published a full-page insert which reported bad weather as brewing from blizzards to heat waves; and across the nation, the prospect of ongoing natural disasters: blizzards, snowstorms, earthquakes, flash floods, monsoons, tornadoes, hailstorms, heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, ice storms, thunderstorms, lightning, tsunamis, nor’easters, river valley flooding, volcanic eruptions and wildfires.

As communities, we ask this question when our communities experience loss through the impact of civil unrest. For example, the anniversaries of September 11th, an event described by Hillary Clinton as "there will never be peace on earth when there are those who use religion as their excuse to terrorize others.”

symbols of peace designed by members of the National League of Pen Women

Collectively, the experiences of a mass murder – such as the students and staff of Sandy Hook school or bombing which occurred in Boston, as a Nation, we are reminded of the frailty of personal safety. So, how under these circumstances is such loss reconcile, acquire a peaceful existence – the sense of a safe place in which to live?

For those of us who ‘dig in the dirt’, a sense of safety – solace – is acquired when we experience the renewal of season and/or planting living green.For example, although in the state of Virginia the month of April is the anniversary for the Virginia Tech shootings, it also a month in which we celebrate Virginia Garden Week. State-wide, historic and newly installed gardens are open for all to explore. In fact, an awesome smaller-scale neighborhood celebration is an event host by the West Avenue Improvement Association, located in Richmond’s Fan area. Held in late April, this neighborhood hosts a half-day block-party. It begins with a parade in which children march to live-music while holding symbols of the season. Next, there are a variety of fun and games: face painting, magic and whatever other activities the community can solicit to participate. Then, residents open the gates to their alley access gardens inviting visitors to meander, visit restored historic gardens, chat with homeowners, nibble on home-made cookies and drink lemonade occurs.

Similar in scale, nation-wide, there are opportunities to experience Earth Day celebrations. For many, it is an opportunity to encourage children to develop a natural curiosity about nature, allow them to play in natural environments at their own pace and learn to follow their instincts. Still, to mark the anniversary of the modern-day environmental movement, a special day is set aside.

For, in 1970, Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment” and force this issue onto the national agenda. As a result, more than 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. A rare political alignment enlist support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders resulting in the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

In 2013, a similar opportunity exist. Members of the Global and National Climate Change Academies released eco research compiled by member national and global scientists. Then, elected representatives legislatively reviewed this research to enable eco regulation. In other words, find a way to make sense of our Nation’s loss due to the impact of ongoing natural disasters fueled by unhealthy shifts in the environment. So, hopefully, during 2016-17 legislative sessions, there will also be amongst us those who can make sense of the senseless act of others who participate in mass murder of innocence, find ways to restore our Nation’s sense of public-at-large community safety, too.

So, whether it is recovery from the havoc of natural disasters or impact of global civil unrest or loss through the act of senseless mass murder, in the spirit of the season, let’s seek to protect the safety of our communities – business, civic and environmental. Together, let’s become people who CARE – set a Climate, not merely adjust to a preexisting one; create an encouraging Attitude, not practice ambivalence; are Receptive to people without losing sight of personal needs; and demonstrate Empathy for others while keeping problems in perspective.

Regardless of cultural diversity, let's make year 2016 Earth Day a celebration in which we join in a prayer for ‘a safe place in which to live’, peace on earth - extend goodwill to all mankind. For, as people who ‘dig in the dirt’, we can make a difference. Visit web site TheWrightScoop for additional tips and strategies.

Eco-sustainable, avoid hunger games

Are you familiar with the phrase ‘hunger games’? It is a phrase coined to describe when a young woman is chosen to represent her district in games - an annual televised battle to the death that takes place between 12 teenage combatants in a dystopian United States of the future. Based on a series of popular novels by Suzanne Collins, these games are a 21st century version of the end of civilization as we know it today.

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Should its message disturb you? I’d certainly hope it does! These games prey on the vulnerable of society - its youth; and promote ‘gladiator style’ solutions to food shortages while teaching present-day children that it is alright to resolve community-at-large issues through adversarial acts of violence.

The ‘living green’ Industry has in fact identified similar issues through the research of such professionals as Richard Louv, author of ‘Last Child in the Woods’ and co-founder of the Children & Nature Network. Louv for years has forewarned society of its pending reality of a ‘last child in the woods’, the result of a lack of people interaction with ‘living green’ that surrounds them. On the other hand, I've described Industry professional Jeff Minnich of Garden Design, Inc. as crediting his perspective – ‘language of flowers’ to the beauty of natural materials and wonderful variety of world plants to influence of a childhood mentor Marguerite Garrett. For, Minnich says, “Marguerite was a great gardener (as were my maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather, so I come by it naturally).

I, as an Industry professional, have equally emphasized the frailty of our present-day eco system through inviting people to follow my tweets and view Facebook postings, acquire and read my published eco books, participate in a ‘walk-about’ in my central Virginia landscape gardens; and through recently, launching a nation-wide plant recognition program Plants of Care. Still, it appears it is a choice of shock words – hunger games – which attracts our nation’s attention.



In my community, the Greater Richmond Area (GRA), I’m proud to say we recognize the forecast of ‘hunger games’ as ‘urban food deserts’; and perhaps more importantly, are in the process of implementing programs which counter these urban problems. The city of Richmond has provided a “YouTube’ video which illustrates its ‘greening’ efforts. Through ‘green initiatives’ the city has made a commitment in its sustainability plan to offset urban food shortages. Details of the GRA effort are available through linking to city of Richmond’s web site sustainability plan option.

An example of our commitment is GRA community gardens. Vacant properties owned by the city were identified and are rapidly becoming community gardens. The GRA openly supports its farmer markets, offers public-at-large educational opportunities and has implemented a free shuttle service to enable inner city dwellers the opportunity to travel to sites of ‘grow your own’ or purchase fresh affordable foods. So, my question to others is as an individual or Industry participant - wholesaler and/or retailer or civic community, what are you doing to insure ‘hunger games’ do not become a reality in your community?

While we most certainly reside in an era of social media – influenced by the ‘world web’ which many believe it has created a decline in present-day social skills as well as disconnects people from the living green world which surrounds them, it should not contribute to an era of ‘hunger games’. As gardeners, we not only have opportunities to make a difference through personal choices but can influence others to create an eco-legacy of healthy green space, both rural and urban – avoid ‘hunger games. To identify additional eco tips and strategies, visit web site TheWrightScoop