Rain date is June 23^rd.

Viewing of 10 or more beautiful gardens in Manasquan which have been lovingly created and tended by their owners. There will be local artists and musicians featured at some of the gardens. Several local restaurants will give a discount for lunch that day for ticket holders.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the tour at the Gazebo in Squan Plaza (25 Abe Voorhees Dr).

Advance tickets are available on Eventbrite or at three stores in Manasquan: Yellow Daisy, Booktown and Manasquan Lighting. Tickets will be in the stores by May 1^st.

12th Garden Tour Manasquan, NJ Tickets, Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite

Read on to see how dirt makes you happy!

Natural remedies have been around for untold centuries. These natural remedies included cures for almost any physical ailment as well as mental and emotional afflictions. Ancient healers may not have known why something worked but simply that it did. Modern scientists have unraveled the why of many medicinal plants and practices but only recently are they finding remedies that were previously unknown and yet, still a part of the natural life cycle. Soil microbes and human health now have a positive link that has been studied and found to be verifiable.

Soil Microbes and Human Health

Did you know that there’s a natural antidepressant in soil? It’s true. Mycobacterium vaccae is the substance under study and has indeed been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress.

Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and bipolar disorders. The bacterium appears to be a natural antidepressant in soil and has no adverse health effects. These antidepressant microbes in soil may be as easy to use as just playing in the dirt.

Most avid gardeners will tell you that their landscape is their “happy place” and the actual physical act of gardening is a stress reducer and mood lifter. The fact that there is some science behind it adds additional credibility to these garden addicts’ claims. The presence of a soil bacteria antidepressant is not a surprise to many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves. Backing it up with science is fascinating, but not shocking, to the happy gardener.

Mycobacterium antidepressant microbes in the soil are also being investigated for improving cognitive function, Crohn’s disease, and even rheumatoid arthritis.

How Dirt Makes You Happy

Antidepressant microbes in soil cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. The bacterium was tested both by injection and ingestion on rats, and the results were increased cognitive ability, lower stress, and better concentration on tasks than a control group.

Gardeners inhale the bacteria, have topical contact with it, and get it into their bloodstream when there is a cut or other pathway for infection. The natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can be felt for up to 3 weeks if the experiments with rats are any indication. So get out and play in the dirt and improve your mood and your life.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

Lady Bird Johnson was an early pioneer in promoting the beauty and tranquility found in a garden. Her words still ring true as we leave winter behind and move into spring. She once said “The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest: it’s the one thing all of us share.”

Take pleasure in planting a garden, even President Abraham Lincoln was inspired by natural beauty. He said, ” We can complain that rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

Remember- Your Mind is a Garden- Your Thoughts are the Seeds- You Can Grow Flowers- Or You Can Grow Weeds.

https://www.lbjlibrary.org/life-and-legacy/lady-bird-johnson

In addition to hikes, talks and volunteer opportunities, we’ll also be hosting an Instagram challenge focused on how you can celebrate Earth Day, while also helping Mother Earth. Jump to the next article for more info our Instagram #LittorallyEarthMonth Challenge or check out the post on Instagram!

While Earth Day is officially Friday, April 22, we’re kicking it off on Thursday, April 21 with a partnership event at Cumberland County Library in Bridgeton, NJ. Participants in the Native Plant Gardening Workshop will learn how to beautify their homes while conserving water and providing vital wildlife habitat. Click here to learn more about the workshop and register.

Rockville Center’s Molloy College will be hosting a Virtual Earth Day Symposium and Long Island Eco-Summit on Friday, April 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don Riepe, the Littoral Society’s Jamaica Bay Guardian and long-time director of the Society’s Northeast Chapter, will be among the speakers. Riepe will speak at 10 a.m. about Long Island’s Amazing Natural Resource Productivity and Biodiversity.

Riepe will also lead a hike around the ponds and gardens of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, April 23. Participants will look for warblers, tanagers, herons, ibis, and many other bird species that are arriving in NYC, while also learning about migration and managing habitats for bird species. The walk is free and kid-friendly, please register so that we have an idea how many people to expect.

For those who want to get their hands in the sand, there will be volunteer work opportunities on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23.

On Friday from 1 – 3 p.m., the Littoral Society will be planting dune grass on the beach at Pierces Point, which is located at End of Beach Avenue, in Cape May Court House. Please register to participate in this event. The registration site will also provide additional information about the event.

We will also be planting dune grass in Asbury Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The gathering location has yet to be determined, so please register so that we can send you event updates. You can also find additional information on the registration page.

Finally, we will complete Saturday’s activities with work at our Slade Dale Marsh Restoration site, in Point Pleasant, NJ. Participants will help from 2-4 p.m. with filling our cribbings and branchbox breakwaters with new branches and Christmas trees. Please register to participate. The registration site will also provide additional information about the event.

Now is also the time to also order your soft neck garlic. This specific crop is bountiful, easy to plant, grow and harvest, and nothing smells and tastes like fresh garden garlic! Most soft neck spring varietals can be planted around early April and harvested in mid to late summer, but the ordering time is now before they sell out. The soft neck garlic ships in March so be sure and reserve yours now. Late March is also the time gardeners start their seedlings indoors with planters and grow lights, think tomatoes, eggplant, pepper and other varietals that can be transplanted in Spring once it’s warm enough and they’ve grown to larger size.

Here in the Garden State, we live up to our name, and that title stands strong at the Jersey Shore as well. Brielle has one of the most beautifully functioning community gardens in the area, carefully run by Alan Hilla, it produces massive amounts of produce and space for gardeners in the area, is farmed and cared for by those same folks, and creates a productive and creative place for the community. The kids are also involved.

Brielle’s garden has raised beds made from local Boy Scout troops, and they even earn a garden badge for their contributions. It’s a win-win for any community, and tending the garden is a delicious and healthy way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. If you want to start a community garden in your area contact your local officials and look for an open, sunny spot with at least eight hours of sun.

https://www.briellenj.gov/public-works/slideshows/community-garden

When we walk out the door these days with our layers of clothes and heavy boots, spring may feel like a world away, but thankfully that world keeps spinning on and that means Spring is on the horizon.

Planning a garden now is not only ripe but warms us for the sunny days ahead.

Happy Gardening!

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Article printed from Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

Article printed from Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

Why Use Egg Cartons for Seeds?

There are a few great reasons to start using egg cartons for your starting seeds, especially if you are just starting out gardening or are starting plants from seeds for the first time. This is a great option. Here’s why:

• An egg carton seed tray is so cheap it’s free. Gardening can be expensive at times, so any way you can trim some costs helps.

• Reusing materials is good for the environment. You were only going to throw it away, so why not find a new use for your egg cartons?

• Egg cartons are small, already compartmentalized, and easy to handle and use.

• The shape of an egg carton makes it easy to situate on a sunny windowsill.

• Egg cartons are flexible seed starting containers. You can use the whole thing or easily cut it apart for smaller containers.

• Depending on the type of carton, you may be able to put it right in the ground with the seedling and let it decompose in the soil.

• You can write directly on the egg carton to keep your seeds organized.

How to Start Seeds in Egg Cartons

First, start collecting egg cartons. Depending on how many seeds you are starting, you may need to plan well ahead to save enough cartons. If you don’t have enough and are ready to start, ask around and save some of your neighbors’ egg cartons from the garbage.

When starting seeds in an egg carton, you still need to consider drainage. An easy solution is to cut off the container lid and put it under the bottom of the carton. Poke holes in the bottom of each egg cup and any moisture will drain out and into the lid underneath.

Fill each egg cup with potting soil and place seeds into the appropriate depth. Water the container to get the soil moist but not soaking.

To keep it warm as the seeds germinate, simply put the carton in a plastic vegetable bag from the grocery store—another good way to reuse materials. Once they sprout, you can remove the plastic and set your container in a sunny, warm spot until they are ready to be planted outside.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

www.gardeningknowhow.com

You should always check your growing zone in order to choose the best plants for a fall garden in your area before planting anything. Many cool-season annuals work well in autumn gardens. In addition, various bulbs make ideal cold temperature plants. Many fall-blooming perennials can also provide interest throughout winter. Like trees, ornamental grasses reach their peak in fall, which can further accentuate the fall garden with dramatic foliage color.

Cold Temperature Plants for Autumn Gardens

While there are numerous plants and flowers for fall gardening, here are some of the most common plants for autumn gardens to get you started:

Fall Annuals: Snapdragon -Pot marigold – Pansy -Nasturtium -Larkspur – Sweet pea – Sweet alyssum

Fall Bulbs: Autumn crocus- Saffron crocus – Autumn daffodil- Cyclamen

Fall Perennials: Aster-Delphinium -Sweet William – Mistflower -Goldenrod- Chrysanthemum

Many cool-season crops can also be grown in the fall garden, whether for the crops themselves or strictly for ornamental purposes.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Autumn Gardens – Plants And Flowers For Fall Gardening https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/plants-fall-garden.htm