February 2010 - Lavender Plants: not only good for Bees

Going Green withSan Bernardino CountyCalifornia Friendly LandscapingUpdate Feb 2010Update #20Everything is looking fine and dandy at our CaliforniaFriendly Garden. The rains have encouraged some of ourshrubs to flourish and produce some beautiful color.The grass plots are also taking advantage of natures naturalirrigation, they too look green and healthy.

Going Green withSan Bernardino CountyPage 2GOT WEEDS: How to win the weed warBindweed (Convolvulusarvensis) (weed 2 of 14)Also called wild morning glory, bindweed grows in open areas.Its 1- to 4-foot-long stems crawl along the ground andtwine over and around other plants.Pulling usually doesn't eradicate it ― the stems break off, butthe weed returns from the roots. To control its spread, you'llhave to dig the roots out repeatedly (persistence is required).It's important not to let bindweed set seed, since the hardcoatedseeds can sprout after lying dormant for 50 years!Best control is prevention. Remove flowers before they set seed,and pull or hoe seedlings. Kill established plants by regularlycutting to the ground any stems that have reached six inches tall.For chemical control, in midsummer, when bindweed is at the height of its growth season but has notyet set seed, spot-treat isolated patches with glyphosate.Information from: http://www.sunset.com/garden/garden-basics/how-to-control-weeds-00400000043681Meet the Grounds Division: Gilbert Street CrewFacilities Management, Grounds Division, Gilbert Street CrewLeft to right: James Ornelas, Judy Pippin and Ruben Gonzales(lead worker)This crew maintains the various sites around Gilbert Street.These include Central JH, ISD, Resource Center & RYEF.Looking for some experience? This is the crew for you, withover 86 years of service between them.They may be old in service, but they are young at heart, theseveterans of vista improvement can still ‘till’ with the best ofthem.

Going Green withSan Bernardino CountyPage 3Lavender Plants: not only good for BeesThe word lavender comes from the Latin name “lavare” which means “to wash”. It was used duringRoman times for its healing and antiseptic qualities. There are many references in the bible to lavender,referring to its ancient name, Spikenard. Mary Magdalene used lavender to wash Jesus’sfeet. Adam and Eve took lavender with them when they were banished from the Garden of Eden.For years lavender was considered a safeguard against evil.In the Middle Ages, monks and nunswere known for using lavender tomake medicine. For years, it wasconsidered a “cure-all”, known totreat anything from upset stomachand kidney disorders. Queen ElizabethI made the herb popular duringher reign.Contemporary aromatherapists havediscovered that odors can affect thechemical balances in the body andlavender is gaining popularity for itsmood changing properties. Lavenderis a known antiseptic and can be English Lavender Lavandula augustifoliaused to treat burns and acne. Manyuse it to release toxins and tension. A gentle spray of lavender water on your sheets can calmyou before bedtime. Many manufacturers are now using it in baby wash as a relaxing additivein bath water.Lavender is also a natural alternative to bug spray. Place lavender sachets in your shoes orcloset to keep the moths away. Sprinkle a bit of lavender buds in your kitchen cupboards to deterants from eating your food. As a garden plant, lavender attracts beneficial bugs such as ladybugs,butterflies and honey bees. (information from: www.lavenderatstonegate.com)Lavender's Many Uses (from http://www.countryliving.com)FOOD: Mix a late summer drink with lavender flowers, or sprinkle the dried blooms onto favoritedesserts.BEAUTY: Lavender soothes skin. Choose natural products made from pure essential oils.SACHET: Make sachets of dried lavender to scent drawers and closets and to repel insects.FLORAL ARRANGING: Pots of lavender make beautiful centerpieces for an outdoor party.Dried bunches look fresh all year.TIP: Enjoy the fragrance of lavender year-round by drying this beloved herb. To preserve, hangsmall bunches upside down in a dark, dry room until the moisture has evaporated.