How to Get Autumn Color in Your Garden

Many native shrubs provide good fall color as well as interest throughout the growing season.  Of course, burning bush and barberry offer nice fall color, but maybe you want to avoid those plants because they can invade natural areas.  Perhaps you want showy plants that are not as common as these two?

Want to plant some shrubs to add fall interest? Here are some alternative native shrubs that offer good fall color…

For partial shade:

• oakleaf hydrangea for a mix of red and purple fall color.
• Fothergilla can also tolerate partial shade, offering shades of yellow, red and orange in fall.
• Clethra leaves turn bright yellow, while itea turns shades of red and purple; both can tolerate full sun or partial shade.

For full sun plant:

• bottlebrush buckeye for yellow fall color.
• ‘Winterthur’ viburnum for purple and red leaves.

Photinia is a large shrub, sometimes trained as a tree, that can reach 10 feet high and wide at maturity.

Photinia Shrub makes an excellent hedge but gets sick easily in USA.

Finely toothed leaves are dark green in summer and is an outstanding sight, with leaves in hues of yellow, orange and apricot , changing to orange-red in autumn. The red fruit is attractive to wildlife. This shrub is not commonly grown because of its susceptibility to the bacterial disease fire blight, so enjoy it in the arboretum but you might choose wisely to not invest in it for your landscape.

Q: A  redvein enkianthus is a spectacular red in the autumn garden. How large will this shrub grow, and why isn’t it grown more often?

redvein enkianth is a lovely tree or shrub alternative

A: Redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) is truly a spectacular sight in autumn, when its whorled leaves turn bright yellow, orange or red. In spring, delicate clusters of white flowers with pink stripes hang from the branches as leaves unfold. In ideal conditions, redvein enkianthus will grow to between 6 and 15 feet. Because it prefers rich, acid soil in partial shade, this shrub finds a happy home in very few gardens in our area.

Q: Why won’t my hydrangeas bloom?

Annabelle Smooth Hydrangea is a spectacular blooming shrub.

A:  The answer depends on the kind of hydrangea you are growing. Many bigleaf hydrangea cultivars, such as ‘Nikko Blue,’ bloom on old wood, and unfortunately the flower buds are commonly killed by winter cold. The result? Lots of leaf growth, but no flowers the following spring.

Some newer bigleaf hydrangea cultivars, such as ‘Endless Summer,’ bloom on new and old wood, but in my opinion, this plant never lived up to the hype surrounding its introduction. I’m a much bigger fan of ‘Tardiva‘ and ‘Limelight‘ panicle hydrangeas, and ‘Annabelle‘ smooth hydrangea. These are all reliable bloomers and adaptable to an assortment of landscape conditions.

Panicle Hydrangea example

In shady sites, ‘Alice‘ and ‘Snow Queen‘ oakleaf hydrangea are rewarding shrubs.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea form the PBS Vistory Garden

For smaller gardens, try ‘Pee Wee‘ or ‘Sike’s Dwarf‘ oakleaf hydrangea.

While none of these hydrangeas offers the deep blue flowers so many gardeners desire, they are more reliable bloomers that blend in with many landscape designs.

REFERENCE:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/hydrangeafaq2.html

http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbushes/p/oak_hydrangeas.htm

http://www.plantsforall.co.uk

The “Queen of Houseplants” , Clivia , much like Christmas cactus, will form flower buds when plants experience a period of cool nights followed by a rest period with very little water.

Clivia makes a very impressive winter show

Clivia is a beautiful tender perennial native to South America.  Clivias can be grown as houseplants, and with some special prompting, can be brought into bloom in winter. The Chicago Botanic Garden suggests 30 days of cool nights, below 50 degrees (but above freezing), followed by six to eight weeks of household temperatures but very little water.  Showy orange flowers are born in clusters on long stems, held over strong straplike leaves.

Clivia roots are thick, fleshy and well-equipped for water storage. On a mature specimen the swollen mass of roots often becomes so large that it will completely fill the pot, forcing the growing medium up and over the container’s edge. Only when this begins to happen should a Clivia plant be moved to a larger pot.

In general, the plants do best when their roots are somewhat constricted by a small pot, so it is best to resist the temptation to place the plant in a pot much larger than the one you are moving it from. Fibrous loam, some coarse grit, decayed manure and leaf mold make a good potting mixture.

Clivias bloom better when pot-bound, so let yours expand to fill the container over time.

Clivia miniata is the one most commonly found in cultivation in the United States. In late winter or spring, tall stalks shoot up from the leaves and bear crowded clusters of brightly colored blossoms, after reaching 3-5 years of age. These evergreen plants typically have a large head (umbel) of between 12 and 20 trumpet shaped flowers on top of a thick stem.

Their long-lasting flowers are usually orange with yellowish centers, but there are forms that bear scarlet, dark red, salmon, and yellow flowers. Clivias enjoy much more popularity in Europe, Japan, China, and Australia than North America. They are known as the “Queen of Houseplants”.

With patience and practice, gardeners can enjoy a large display of clivia flowers in winter, just when the soul craves bloom.

• 

  clivia miniata citrina

• Clivia caulescens
• Clivia gardenii
• Clivia nobilis

Clivias can be increased by division, but are most often propagated by separation of offsets, in late spring or early summer after the plants have flowered. After about three or four years, plants will usually begin producing one or more offsets each year. When an individual offset has developed three or four leaves of its own, it can be cut from the parent plant, being careful to include some roots, and placed in small pots of its own.

REFERENCE:

www.cliviasociety.org

www.plantzafrica.com

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clivia

www.americancliviasociety.org

www.gaygardener.com

Successful manufacturers will those who take full advantage of the shift toward sustainability as fast and efficiently as possible.  Companies practicing sustainability strategies can improve both their top and bottom lines, creating significant stakeholder and shareholder value.

Titled The eco-SMART Manufacturing Program, the services have been designed to meet the U.S. Department of Commerce’s definition for sustainable manufacturing as, “…the creation of manufactured products that:

* use processes that minimize negative environmental impacts
* conserve energy and natural resources
* are safe for employees, communities and consumers
* are economically sound.”

Programs exist that can help manufacturers learn and develop strategies to benefit from the rapidly growing sustainability marketplace.  Find out much more at www.ecosmartmanufacturing.org

Summarized and edited from Plain Dealer Op/Ed by Greg Krizman, Cleveland, Ohio September 2009.

How to Recycle Alkaline Manganese Batteries

A little background information:

Batteries are identified by the product they’re used for (“car battery,” “cell phone battery,” etc.) or its size ( “9V”, “button cell”). But for scientific purposes, batteries’ names are based on the metals they contain. Concerning disposal, the name can be helpful because it lets you know what elements are wrapped up in that cylindrical or rectangular packaging.

In the case of both batteries, recycling involves using heat to separate the high temperature metals, such as nickel and iron, from the low temperature ones, like zinc and cadmium. Some of the metals solidify after they melt, while others are reprocessed as metal oxides. Regardless of the post melt metal metamorphased result,  each of these metals have monetary value and significant useful lives all their own.

Battery recycling comes down to the efforts you are willing to make.  Easy availability of recycling service centers depends on where you live.   California has designated all batteries as hazardous waste and requires that they be recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste collection facility.

It is important to recycle all types of batteries.

Keep these two points in mind when determining what your options might be for recycling the different types of batteries you might have on hand:

1.        Rechargeable batteries last considerably longer than single-use batteries, so using them means less batteries for disposal.

2.       All batteries have a finite life span, but there are steps you can take to prolong the life of your batteries.

Alkaline batteries are common in most households.

Alkaline batteries are used in everything from cameras and flashlights to remote controls.

Your local solid waste department might instruct you to put alkaline batteries in with your regular trash. This is likely a result of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act that passed in 1996 that phased out the use of mercury in alkaline batteries, making them less of an issue when disposed in landfills.  This does not  mean alkaline batteries are not recyclable, however.

If you’re unable to find a local recycling option, you can consider mail-in recycling programs. They are also accepted for recycling at all Batteries Plus locations.

If you do decide to put alkaline batteries in the trash, since in most cases this is legal, you can still take extra steps to prevent leaking- here’s how:

1.         Put multiple batteries in the same plastic bag.

2.         Secure the ends of each battery with masking tape.

Recycling these batteries can recover steel and zinc, two valuable metals. In the case of steel, it can be reprocessed into rebar…remember that rebar can come in handy to have on hand!

How to Recycle Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries

Ni-cad batteries are usually rechargable and easy to recycle.

Ni-Cd batteries are the inexpensive rechargeable form of alkaline batteries. They can be recharged hundreds of times to avoid disposing of batteries and are frequently interchangeable with alkaline batteries.

A cadmium-free alternative to these batteries is Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), which you’ll now find more often with name brands of rechargeable batteries.

• FACT: Ni-Cd batteries retail cost includes the built-in price to cover proper disposal.

• FACT: Due to the presence of the toxic metal cadmium, these batteries are considered hazardous waste and are not allowed in landfills.

• FACT: In 1994 the rechargeable battery industry formed the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), which provides collection locations for both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries in thousands of retail stores and public agencies.

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries

Many newer electronics utilize lithium ion batteries.

One of the newest forms of rechargeable technology is the Li-ion battery, which is commonly found in cellular phones and consumer electronics.

• Lithium- ion batteries are also being introduced as the power source for electric vehicles.

Li-ion battery are generally disposed of along with an electronic device like a cell phone or a laptop.  Generally, the company or person that accepts your used electronic device will accept the battery as well. The RBRC program, summarized above,  also covers lithium-ion batteries so finding recycling locations should not be too demanding.

These batteries are recycled in the same way as Ni-Cd batteries and also produce valuable metals.

Li-ion batteries are not recommended to be stored or put into landfills because they have the potential to overheat and explode when exposed to hot temperatures. If  you intend to amass  a collection of lithium-ion batteries before recycling them, it’s a good idea to store lithium-ion batteries in a cool location.

Silver Oxide Batteries

Silver oxide batteries are also known as button batteries.

This is the more common form of the button cell battery, which you’ll usually find in calculators, hearing aids and wristwatches.

In addition to their small size, button cells are known for a long storage life and the ability to work well in low temperatures.

Silver oxide and other button cell batteries also contain mercury, which makes recycling a must. They aren’t rechargeable so RBRC’s program does not cover silver oxide/button batteries.

Button batteries are often replaced by a professional so ask if  they will recycle the batteries.  Often silver oxide batteries can be disposed of as part of household hazardous waste programs sponsored by your state or county.

• Button cells have an alphanumeric code, and the first letter indicates what type you have (“L” for manganese dioxide, “S” for silver oxide).

• Silver oxide batteries are typically shredded during the recycling process to recover the valuable heavy metals.

Lead-Acid Batteries

Lead batteries power cars, boats and other BIG toys!

These are the batteries that primarily power automotive units, such as cars, boats, golf carts, motorcycles and even lawn mowers.

Lead-acid batteries have a 97 percent recycling rate, the highest of any consumer product in the U.S., which is good because they’re one of the most harmful products in a landfill with a mixture of lead and sulfuric acid.

When you buy a new car battery  ask about the intended recycling options for the old one when it’s installed. You can also participate in the AAA-sponsored Great Battery Roundup, which takes place every year in April.

Lead-acid batteries are recycled by separating the battery into its three main components: Plastic, lead and sulfuric acid.  After the recycling process each component starts a new life!

• The polypropylene plastic is reprocessed into new battery cases.

• Lead pieces are cleaned and also reprocessed for use in new batteries.

• The battery acid is either converted into sodium sulfate that is then used in laundry detergent or neutralized through a waste water treatment plant to be cleaned for human consumption.

Yoga therapy is a relatively new style of yoga, and the standards for schools continue to be defined.  There is general information about the practice and available schools listed at the International Association of Yoga Therapists Web site www.iayt.org.

Yoga therapy for Arthritis

There are schools that offer programs ranging from 200-500 hour yoga therapy training programs.  All training is registered through the National Yoga Alliance.

Therapeutic yoga focuses on working on the physical aspects of the body, either by stretching joints to work different body systems through curling, bending and twisting or massaging direrect glands to increase blood flow.

The emotional level consists of behavioral changes, healthy choices and how the body reacts to stress.  Yoga therapy is a growing method of dealing with chronic back pain.

All yoga is therapeutic, but the difference lies in the teacher’s understanding of what goes with a particular ailment.

REFERENCE:

International Association of Yoga Therapists

IAYT Standards Committee

A recent Consumer Reports Health survey reveals that 55% of those who have undergone Lasik surgery still need to wear glasses occasionally.

Vision improvement after Lasik surgery

53% of those surveyed experienced at leat one side effect within the first four weeks of the surgery, and 22% of patients experienced them six months after surgery, especially dry eyes and visual symptoms such as halos, glare and starbursts around lights.

Under the Tonko bill, proposed windmill research, development and demonstration programs would get up to $200 million annually over five years to spur the creation of low cost transportable towers and larger, lighter and more affordable blade materials.

The bill would also create a demonstration program to measure wind energy performance that would include the full range of wind conditions across the country. That data would be then used as part of the research and development program. It also requires that the demonstration programs be conducted in collaboration with private industry.

One of the biggest barriers is the high cost of transporting ever-growing rotary blades and heavy tower components form assembly plants to wind farms in gusty but remote locations.

It is believed that the initiative could leverage nanoscience research by businesses and research institutions that are working at the molecular level to create lighter and more durable materials.

This program, supervised by the Energy Department, would also be tasked with improving gearbox reliability and developing cheaper automation and assembly techniques for large components.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, a bill that would authorize a comprehensive program to improve the efficiency, reliability and cost effectiveness of domestic wind energy systems. The House bill (H.R. 3165) was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY 21) and passed with bipartisan support in a voice vote.

Tonko said wind energy makes up 2 percent of the total energy generation in the United States, but there is the potential for it to provide up to 20 percent with the improvements in turbine technology, forecasting, energy storage, and expansion of transmission systems.

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research and development to improve the energy efficiency, reliability, and capacity of wind turbines; optimize the design and adaptability of wind energy systems; and reduce the cost of construction, generation, and maintenance of wind energy systems. Specifically, this program would include:

• Examination of new materials and designs to make larger, lighter, less expensive, and more reliable motor blades
• Technologies to improve gearbox performance and reliability
• Automation, materials, and assembly of large-scale components
• Low-cost transportable towers greater than 100 meters in height
• Advanced computational modeling tools, control systems, blade sensors and advanced generators
• Wind technology for offshore applications
• Methods to assess and mitigate the effects of wind energy systems on radar and electromagnetic fields
• Wind turbines with a maximum electric power production capacity of 100 kilowatts or less
• Technologies to improve transmission from remotely located renewable resource rich areas

The bill authorizes $200 million dollars per year from 2010 through 2014 for these programs.

Rep. Tonko added: “Government can play an important role in advancing renewable energy technologies by serving as the bridge that will get the best ideas from the drawing board to reality, and grow our innovation economy. This bill does just that by providing the necessary investment to help private industry perfect wind energy, and bring those advances in technology and cost savings to market.”

REFERENCE:

http://www.windaction.org/news/23050

The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared a test that can help detect ovarian cancer in a pelvic mass in women who are already scheduled for gynecological surgery.

The blood test, called OVA1, is not a screening test or a test meant to diagnose ovarian cancer.  Rather, it helps determine what type of surgery should be done and by whom.  It is not meant to replace other diagnostic and clinical procedures.

By testing for levels of five proteins that change due to ovarian cancer, OVA1 identifies some women who will benefit from referral to a gynecological oncologist for their surgery, despite negative results from other clinical and radiographic tests for ovarian cancer.

If other test results suggest cancer, referral to an oncologist is appropriate even with a negative OVA1 test result.

REFERENCE:

sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com

Health Info is Power

Testosterone builds muscle and increases libido...

(NaturalNews) Testosterone decreases as we age, but numerous herbs and nutrients can help increase the blood levels of this hormone. Low testosterone can increase the risk of heart problems as well as depression, osteoporosis, and dementia. Reduced testosterone causes a condition known as andropause that develops with aging.

Testosterone is an anabolic steroid and research on synthetic hormone replacement has been inconclusive.

Symptoms of low testosterone include:

* Erectile dysfunction (problems with erections)
* loss of libido (low sex drive)
* Mood disturbances, including depression, irritability and feeling tired
* Loss of muscle size and strength
* Osteoporosis (bone thinning)
* Increased body fat
* Difficulty with concentration and memory loss
* Sleep difficulties

The UCLA School of Medicine studied the plant MUIRA PUAMA and found it had the ability to increase testosterone production in men. South American shaman and healers have used this plant from the Brazilian rainforest for generations. Known as “potency wood” it has been used as an aphrodisiac as well.

The Chinese herb FO TI is used in Oriental Medicine as an aphrodisiac and for longevity. The Chinese name is HOSHOU WU. It has been used to treat impotency and to turn back the clocks on aging.

Broccoli and cauliflower contain natural ingredients that help the body to eliminate estrogen.

Another way to do this is by taking the nutrient l-arginine. A recent study showed that men taking less than two grams of l-arginine daily for two weeks had improvement. Another study of men taking five grams a day, demonstrated similar results.

SARSAPARILLA root has been made into a soft drink, like root beer, and is known in folk medicine as a treatment for increased virility.

sarsaparilla-root

There is no research on this plant, but it has been used for generations.

Another plant known to raise testosterone is indigenous to India and parts of Eastern Europe. TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS has been shown to raise testosterone in chimpanzees by over 50%. The effects can be seen in just a few days. The common name for Tribulus terrestris is Puncture Vine.

The MACA ROOT has been used in South America as a drink and to increase virility. This plant is in the radish family and grows in the high Andes Mountains at elevations above 10,000 feet. In a test with men with prostate cancer, maca did increase libido but did not significantly increase levels of testosterone in the blood. This plant, once reserved for Incan Royalty, is also under investigation for menopausal issues.

Research has also shown that ACETYL-L-CARNITINE increases testosterone production. Used to burn fat and build muscles, this important nutrient increases both testosterone and luteinizing hormone.

Increasing testosterone in the blood can restore health and reverse the signs of aging, thereby reducing many of the side effects, for mood, memory and heart health.

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States like Vermont are considering clean energy programs backed by ARRA funds, but will have to navigate stringent oversight and reporting requirements.

Uncle "Sam is raining money on states for the greater good of all...

As states begin to receive the vast stimulus funds available for energy efficiency programs, many are scurrying to ensure that they maximize the money’s potential to expand jobs and cost savings within the law’s three-year time frame. By all accounts, it’s a tremendous opportunity – but one that carries a unique set of challenges, energy sources said.

The stimulus law, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is pumping more than $10 billion dollars into energy efficiency, clean energy, and weatherization for low-income homes. “I think our real challenge is: How do we make sure that that money is not squandered?” said Jessie Stratton, director of government relations at Environment Northeast, a nonprofit.

Stratton and other experts participated in a session on “Ramping up to Meet the Flow of ARRA Funds,” held in conjunction with the CSG/ERC Annual Meeting on August 3 in Burlington, Vermont. By leveraging stimulus dollars with other funds available for energy-efficiency investments, states can get the most out of the money and make sure those investments last over time, said Blair Hamilton, policy director of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. That is critical for a state like Vermont, where a recent policy calls for 40 percent of the state’s building stock — 80,000 households – to be retrofitted to cut energy use by at least 25 percent by 2020.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

In neighboring Maine, legislation enacted this year calls for 100 percent of residences and 50 percent of businesses to be weatherized by 2020. The stimulus funds carry with them stringent oversight and reporting requirements to ensure transparency. The requirements have slowed spending within some state agencies – particularly those administering the low-income Weatherization Assistance Program – but participants speculated the end result would be positive.

Many people who have spent years working on energy-efficiency programs have been pleasantly surprised by efforts among officials at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is administering the funds, to make sure they are spent wisely and in ways that make a difference, said Hamilton. For example, DOE has created targets suggesting what would be a good rate of return for specific types of investments. Officials have also provided guidance that directs agencies to invest certain funds in energy efficiency because it generates the most jobs, can be implemented fast and leads to big savings, said Hamilton.

Compared with other states in the U.S., much of the Northeast region already stands out as having achieved comparatively high cost savings from energy efficiency, and continues to invest in policies that would accelerate those gains. They include: systems benefits charges that are tacked onto utility bills to fund energy-efficiency improvements; energy-efficiency resource standards, in which utilities are required to glean a certain percentage of energy savings per sales; and least-cost procurement policies, which require utilities to purchase all energy efficiency that is cheaper than supply.

Other policies that promote energy efficiency include decoupling a utility’s sales from revenue streams and creating performance standards, which set energy-efficiency targets for utilities to meet. These policies ensure that utilities generate returns by achieving greater efficiency – in other words, by selling less energy. They differ from traditional policies in which utilities generate profits solely by selling more energy. In addition, Northeastern states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are allocating the bulk of their proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances toward energy efficiency and low-income weatherization.

In the U.S. as a whole, there was a 34 percent increase in efficiency between 2006 and 2008, and the Northeast was responsible for a significant portion of that spending, said Stratton of Environment Northeast. Per-capita spending on energy efficiency is expected to continue its rise: in the next two years, spending in Vermont will go from $55 per capita to $66, and in Rhode Island it will shoot up from $14 to $41. Spending in Massachusetts is also skyrocketing because of a least-cost procurement policy established last year.

SOURCE:

http://www.csgeast.org/default.asp

Find out more about the Council of state Governments here Council of State Governments