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Greetings!
It's good to be back!!
I've been busy this
winter, working on the Master Gardening Course, The
Bayview Outdoor Classroom project and Preparing for
Level 3 of the Horitculture Therapy Diploma, and of
course building a web site with Lucky Duck Web
Design.
I've learnt a lot and look forward to putting all this
information to good use in your gardens and
landscapes!
Pat our gardener is back, and Greg and I have been
on the land nearly a month now. We had
an incredibly dry
winter so I encourage everyone to turn over their
rain barrels now - lets collect as much water
as we can.
I hope everyone enjoyed their winter
as much as I did - I look forward to catching up
with you all in the coming weeks. And, I hope you like
our new format of Natural Notes and web site.
See you soon!
Rosmarie Bradley
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Natural Notes
Helping Nature Heal goes electronic, while delivering an earth-based service!
Welcome to Spring and Natural Notes,
our Helping
Nature Heal e-newsletter!
This has been a very exciting winter since our last
paper version of Natural Notes! We've chosen
to go electronic to reduce our paper
consumption while keeping our subscribers informed
and involved in Helping Nature Heal (HNH).
We're also developing our new
web site - and have just launched our fourth
detailed page.
We'll
continue filling new pages with valuable information
and a thriving crop of links and pdfs.
Our
home page
is a lovely interpretation of our work
with nearly 200 clients to date. Our benefits page
links my training and eduction to your garden while
introducing many of our areas of interest. As for
our new Nature's Store . . . you can read about it
towards the end of this newsletter.
How can I help you? Please check out
my
resume.
I hope our HNH website, Natural Notes
newsletter
and Nature's Store will help us meet your needs
while reducing our paper use as part of our
commitment to the Planet.
We welcome your comments! If
you'd rather receive a mailed paper version of our
newsletter, please e-mail me at
rosmarie@helpingnatureheal.com or feel free to
continue using helpingnatureheal@ns.sympatico.ca
for day-to-day communication, as we monitor both
addresses.
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The health of our Planet ? that's my passion!
I live in Nova Scotia, along Bridgewater's LaHave
River with my family Greg, step daughters and black
Labrador-German Shepherd mix, RockSea.
Tending our gardens is a great hobby for the whole
family. From planting to harvest, we enjoy time
together in the outdoors.
Helping Nature Heal (HNH) is a passion for me. Each
day I'm fortunate to be focused on my favourite
hobby. Sure, it's hard, and sometimes challenging,
work - I've shed tears over trees being cut down or
blown down from storms. But then, I've jumped for
joy when the right plant works in the right spot,
when a tree's wound has been healed, when a rock
fits into a wall perfectly.
I am so grateful I can design, plan, plant and
maintain such wonderful, diverse spaces!
According to government
maps,
we
are in Zone
5B. Along the South Shore of Nova Scotia, gardens
often have three or more distinct micro-climates,
ranging from 4 to 6! It keeps things interesting for
sure!
Early April, I traveled to Ontario to continue my
studies in Horticultural
Therapy. What a super way to start
the new season ? taking Level 3 out of 5 to achieve
my diploma (once I've completed all my projects and
exams).
This spring, I'm joining forces with the
Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation and Bayview
Community
School teacher Jonathan Chaisson and his Grade
6
class. We'll transform a neglected bus-loop circle into
a vibrant outdoor classroom amidst a micro Acadian
Forest.
Join the program by
donating
$25 for a boardwalk
plank in your name!
I was delighted to be invited back to the Chester
Garden Club for another workshop in pruning. Last
year, we put the focus on trees, on April 19, we
moved on to bushes.
Thanks to all of our supporters for their continued
loyalty as we grow this company and strive to be
even better! As with a garden, time, energy and
effort make it all worthwhile. Please stay tuned for
seasonal updates.
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Keeping on track . . .
First things First!
Pruning
-
Prune now: all trees and late blooming
shrubs
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Wait to prune: forsythia or lilacs until after
blooming
Winter protection
-
Remove hay and brush
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Fork in last year's leaves
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Apply compost, mulch, wood chips
Keeping ahead of the game ? what's next?
-
Early edging and weeding goes a long way
in keeping things tidy and neat
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Treat your old, tired mulch by forking in
manure, then covering it with new mulch
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Mulch 2-4 inches in empty areas and make
the bed more three-dimensional, adding to its detail,
style and character
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It's time to separate iris, hostas and many
other favourite plants. Why not share them with
friends or donate some to a charity or club?
-
Transplants need to get into the ground
asap. As long as they're out of the ground, they're
stuck in transplant shock. After planting, treat them
to a boost by soaking them with our liquid kelp or
diluted compost tea.
-
We had a dry winter and a jump-started
spring. With little snowfall this winter, the ground is
thawing fast and dehydrating by consistent winds. If
this continues, we could be in for a rough, dry
summer.
To help with this, we can employ Xeriscape
techniques ? planning your garden so it consumes
the least amount of water over the long term. We
recommend the moisture retaining characteristics of
composted manure and heavy mulch cover. As well
as planting the right plant for the right spot and
choosing native or zone-hardy plants.
Events
-
May 6: Harbour View Haven Garden Club
spring sale of
plants and crafts. All proceeds to the HVH
Garden Club
-
May 27, 9 am ? 1 pm: Chester Plant Sale at
the Old
Railway Station. To be honest, I'll be there
an hour ahead of
time ? with lots of perennials! This is a rain or shine
event ? hope to see you there!
See our benefits page!
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Plants, Plants and More at Nature's Store
Interac e-mail: convenient system
Helping Nature Heal clients' get to shop first
at our Nature's Store. After your needs are
met, we
will sell to the public by appointment only! Check out
our potted plants, seedlings, herbs and seeds. Don't
forget our hand made bird feeders ? they're unlike
any others you've seen before! We've got Natural
elements, such as logs, stumps or rock work. Invest
in our
liquid
Kelp ? your plants will show their
love!
As always, we deliver classes, consultation, design
and landscaping services.
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Helping Nature Heal launches annual budget package
We're pleased to offer you the annual convenience of
a pre-authorized monthly payment plan.
This facilitates consistent planning and timely
service. Keeping in touch with your needs, as well as
your plants needs, are our primary concern.
Full story
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We keep your herb and veggie gardens looking their very best ? all the time!
I'm proud of our herb and vegetable gardens ?
throughout the season, we keep these clients'
gardens in peak, harvest mode.
Helping Nature Heal will plant, then rotate your crops,
so you'll
always enjoy fresh, lush, bounty. We grow our stock
from seed and always have enough on hand to fly in
with supplies!
Our clients say it's a great service! There's nothing
like having fresh, quality produce at your
fingertips all
season long!
See our Nature's Store!
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