The Garfield Gardener THE NEWSLETTER OF GARFIELD PARK MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION
April 2018
Next Meeting April 11 (6:30 p.m.) Topic: Growing and Using Fresh Herbs Speaker: Shirley Ulicni, Master Gardener May 9 (6:30 p.m.) Topic: Natives For Your Garden Speaker: Amy Mullen, Spotts Garden Service June 13 July 11 August 8 September 12 October 10 November 14 December 12
Meetings occur the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Garfield Park unless otherwise noted. Purdue University is an equal opportunity / equal access / affirmative action university. If you require an accommodation or special assistance to attend these programs due to a disability, please contact Steve Mayer at 317.275.9290. Some accommodations may require 2 weeks notice. Newsletter Editor: Oren Cooley pastpfct@aol.com Learn more at: www.IndyGPMGA.com www.IndyMG.org www.IndyHorticulture.org
President’s Letter Greeting Fellow Gardeners, My husband and I are in the process of redesigning our backyard. We are doing two raised garden beds as well as a new flower bed.
I was doing some research and I was inquiring on how to incorporate feng shui into our garden. Feng shui is an art of reaching harmony in life—a practice that comes from China. It is believed that, if a place (home, garden, office or anywhere) is arranged according to the feng shui guidelines, it remains prosperous, peaceful and harmonious. In feng shui, there are five basic elements– fire, water, metal, earth and wood. They maintain harmony in the world around us and influence our lives. Thus, in the feng shui garden design, these five elements must be in order in their zones. A feng shui garden should not be overloaded; otherwise, chi (“energy of life”) will circulate poorly. Keep the design simple. To maintain the flow of energy, you must promote movement in the garden. Make curved paths and edgings. Invite butterflies, bees and birds. Put out feeders, and grow fruit trees and flowers to attract them. Furthermore, statues and sculptures also attract positive energy. Their size must be proportional to the garden. The large pots and urns are the holders of luck and abundance. So prefer the larger ones. Water is an essential element in the feng shui garden. It is a symbol of prosperity. It takes place in the form of a stream, waterfall or pond and it must be there in the appropriate zone. The garden must be open, full of brightness and natural light. Walkways and entrances must not be blocked by any object or a tree. To bring nature, large rocks and gravels must be used. Hopefully, I can establish feng shui in my garden beds this year. We all could use some peace and harmony in our lives today! —Carrie Alumbaugh GPMGA President
“It didn’t occur to me that . . . that gardening, like music, could demand practice, patience and a willingness to make mistakes.” —Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist