There's a "recycling revolution" happening in Sweden - one that has pushed the country closer to zero waste than ever before. In fact, less than one percent of Sweden's household garbage ends up in landfills today. At the core of Sweden's program is its waste-management hierarchy designed to curb environmental harm: prevention, reuse, recycling, recycling alternatives, and lastly, disposal. See how they're doing it.

A Washington, DC pediatrician knows the value of parks to improving one's health, so he's making sure children are prescribed time to enjoy and benefit from the green spaces. Dr. Robert Zarr is part of the DC Park Prescription Program (DC Park Rx) that prescribes nature to patients and families to encourage outside time in one of the areas parks. Learn more about this initiative.

CN and America in Bloom announced last week the recipients of grants for the CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up program in the United States. Four communities were selected to receive grants totalling $85,790. Recipients will match the grant awards with additional local investments for a total of over $200,000 in landscaping and landscape services. The goal of the program is to create sustainable community greening and beautification projects that will contribute to each community's environmental, economic, social and health benefits. CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up also

provides opportunities for CN and the communities along its rail network to work together toward shared goals of environmental stewardship.

A successful program in Canada for several years, this is the program's first year in the United States. Learn which cities received the grants.

America in Bloom has released two new books. The first is an annual addendum to our popular Best Ideas book which includes more than 2,000 best practices and photos from AIB participants. This special edition was created in response to multiple request for annual updates, and features one "best idea" for each of the 33 participants in 2014.

The second book, Perspectives on Planting Pride, is a compilation of articles and essays from AIB past president, Dr. Marvin Miller. Inlcuded are his thoughtful reflections and impressions of gardening, life, and current research in the field of horticulture and how it affects communities and individuals.

Calling all garden lovers! For the fourth year, America in Bloom will host a beautiful display garden at the world famous Philadelphia Flower Show - the oldest and largest in the US with more than 10 acres of garden under roof. The 2015 theme is "Celebrating the Magic of Movies."

And AIB will definitely bloom with a design created by Longwood Gardens designers Jim Sutton (also an AIB judge) and Trilbey Smith. The design celebrates AIB participants as "stars" - celebrities in their own right. Stars will be created using nemesias and echoed with stars painted on the pavers. In addition, stars will be hung from banner poles - each with the name of an AIB participant. Two stunning benches on loan from Longwood Gardens will invite guests into the garden and offer a comfortable place to rest and enjoy the beauty.

Sponsors for the garden include Proven Winners, which will be providing lobularia and nemesia. Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs will be providing double pink reblooming azaleas, variegated deutzia, and arborvitae. Schubert Nursery will again provide its signature spiral ivy topiaries and ivy plants. Eckert's Greenhouse will be loaning their wonderful poles for hanging banners and their weekender watersaving pots for hanging baskets.

Several AIB board members and judges and Stacey Hirvela from Spring Meadow Nursery will help host in the garden. If you'd like to volunteer to host, help with setup or teardown, please contact Evelyn Alemanni. Volunteers receive free admission to the flower show. The show is from February 27-March 8. More details are available at www.theflowershow.com .

Earlier this month, only an estimated 36.4% of eligible voters nationwide cast a ballot in the November 4 mid-term elections.  This was the lowest turnout in any election since World War II, when only 33.9% voted in the 1942 election.  Even though most people live in relative proximity to their polling place, mandatory gasoline rationing went into effect in May of that year for the eastern half of the country, and gasoline rationing became a nationwide phenomenon on December 1, 1942.  Though this November's voting percentage was almost as low nationwide, even as lower gasoline prices are being reported everywhere, the turnout varied widely, as in Maine 59% of eligible voters cast a ballot, while in Indiana, only 28% turned out to vote.

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