Refreshing the Landscape

By Brenda Powell

GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES NEED SPRING CLEANING, TOO! WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS UP AND THE SUN PEAKS THROUGH THE CLOUDS I’M ITCHING TO GET OUTSIDE AND PLANT.

Some years this is March or April; this year it looks like it will be May. Before I plant new things, there’s a lot of other stuff to do. First, I clean up: cut down the perennials that die to the ground yearly, rake away the leaves left as mulch and put them in the compost pile, cut off broken branches, remove the weeds, and get rid of any other debris. Then I fertilize the newer plants with organic fertilizer and apply compost or mulch. To recharge my vegetable raised beds and raise the soil level I add G&B Harvest Supreme, Garden Valley soil conditioner, Malibu compost, and Espoma bio-tone starter plus.

Generally, I refresh each bed when I am ready to plant a new crop, so that doesn’t happen all at once.

Next is my favorite part; walking the whole property to assess and dream. What did well, and what didn’t perform or died? (Yes, even long-time gardeners have failures.) Are there holes I need to fill? What can I plant or place there? What do I want to plant in my pots? The same old thing or something completely different? There are so many possibilities. If a plant died, I check my want list to see if a new variety will work there. If not, then I’ll see what plant performed well in a similar situation and choose a different variety or repeat the same plant. I don’t want fifty Geum ‘Mai Tai’ but maybe I will plant a different Geum with red flowers or chartreuse foliage. For my containers, I will often repeat the same combination, but I like to try at least one new plant each year.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have fun refreshing your landscape.

Dry Eyes?

By Cheryl Lohman

IN THIS ISSUE I’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I SEE WHEN I’M PROVIDING CONSULTATIONS FOR PERMANENT MAKEUP.

Many clients indicate they have dry eye. I don’t have the ability to treat dry eye, however, I wanted to share about a treatment I’ll be recommending to my clients.

Rosacea and dry eye are two common conditions that can affect the eyes and cause discomfort. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes facial redness, bumps, and visible blood vessels. It can also affect the eyes, causing dryness, irritation, and inflammation of the eyelids, a condition known as ocular rosacea.

There is a strong correlation between rosacea and dry eye. Studies have shown that up to 50% of patients with rosacea also have dry eye. This is because both conditions share similar underlying causes, such as inflammation and dysfunction of the meibomian glands in the eyelids. These glands produce the oily component of tears, which helps prevent tear evaporation and keeps the eyes moisturized.

Symptoms of dry eye and ocular rosacea can be similar and may include redness, itching, burning, and a feeling of grittiness or dryness in the eyes. Both conditions can be managed through a combination of lifestyle changes, such as avoiding triggers like wind and dry environments, and using eye drops and IPL treatments.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a noninvasive treatment that has been gaining popularity as an effective treatment for dry eye syndrome. IPL uses high-intensity light waves to target and heat up the oil-producing glands in the eyelids, which can become clogged and cause dry eye symptoms.

Studies have shown that IPL therapy can lead to significant improvements in dry eye symptoms, including increased tear production, reduced eye redness, and improved comfort. In a recent study, 79% of patients reported a significant improvement in their dry eye symptoms after just one IPL treatment.

While IPL is generally considered safe, there are some potential side effects to be aware of, such as temporary redness and swelling around the eyes.

Overall, the results of IPL for dry eye are promising. By targeting the underlying cause of dry eye symptoms, IPL can provide relief and improve tear production. If you are suffering from dry eye syndrome, talk to your eye doctor about whether IPL may be a good treatment option for you. It’s important to have this treatment done by an eye doctor with their specialized equipment for the eyes. For Rosacea IPL, you can seek out a qualified dermatologist or skin care professional.

Personally, I have experienced these dry eye IPL treatments and have seen a real improvement in my dry eyes. Ahhhhh … Relief!