Surviving the allergy season

We're on the cusp of a beautiful time of year in Grand Rapids. The daffodils and tulips are out, the star magnolia trees are blossoming - perhaps a bit thinner than usual due to bud loss - and the leaves on the maples and blossoms on the regular magnolias are peeking out, preparing to wow us with their loveliness.

Plenty of us will be viewing all of this through hazy, watery eyes and keeping kleenex handy for the next little bit, however. Allergy season is upon us.  Of course, everyone is different. Some people may have problems with the leaf detritus left on the ground, a result of leaves falling late and snow falling early. When that gets raked up, as much of it has been already, things will improve. But for people with pollen allergies, it'll get worse before it gets better.

Here's a link to the Weather Channel's 4-day Pollen Count for Grand Rapids so you can know what to expect. It looks like this weekend might be challenging. If you have allergies, keep the windows closed, and get a family member who's not so allergic to do a thorough cleaning and vacuuming of your house. There are a number of natural remedies you might try for relief, including using a neti pot, but limiting your exposure to the allergen is your best bet.

As the Dutch say, "Gezondheid!"

Spring Has Sprung In Michigan

Spring has finally arrived in Michigan.  After the drudgery that was this winter, there is no doubt that Michiganders are more than ready for some spring fun.  This season check out some of the following family activities.  

1.  Take an outdoor trip with the family to the Blandford Nature Center.  There is no better way to enjoy the excitement of spring than to be surrounded by the beauty that Michigan has to offer.  With 143 acres of land and wildlife, Blandford Nature Center offers numerous trails, wildlife exhibits, and the enjoyment of pure nature.  You can even bring the dogs (as long as they stay on a leash)

2.  Nothing signifies spring in Grand Rapids more than the annual Butterflies Are Blooming exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens.  This yearly exhibition is the largest tropical butterfly display in the nation.  Guests can surround themselves with the tranquility of hundreds of butterflies from around the world.  The exhibition ends April 30, so there is still time to experience this fantastic treat. 

3.  The updated Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium in downtown Grand Rapids is now open!  All of the new shows in the planetarium will feature the latest projection technology and advanced surround sound for the ultimate stargazing experience.  With over $1 million in upgrades, the new shows are worth scheduling an outing for.  To access shows and prices, visit http://www.grmuseum.org/planetarium.

4.  Bring the kids down to John Ball Park Zoo, Saturday May 3 for Party for the Planet.  With over 20 participating organizations, this is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  Learn how to preserve the world’s resources through science experiments, demonstrations, and craft activities.  Great family fun for the spring!

5.  Yet another outdoor activity to soak up the natural Michigan beauty this spring is hiking Reed’s Lake Trail in East Grand Rapids.  The trail is a 4.2 mile hike that loops around Reed’s Lake.  It travels through wooded areas, wonderful views of the water, and wetlands.  The trail is extremely family friendly and accessible for bikes, joggers, and dog-walkers.  

These are just a few activities to do with the family this spring.  I assume I speak for many here in Grand Rapids when I say that the warmer weather is a welcome stranger.  Any activity that involves the natural beauty of Michigan should be top priority after the intensity of this winter.      

Getting ready for spring - and the garden

It’s the beginning of March now, and while nearly all of us are tired of looking at the snow, some of us are planning what we will plant in our yards and gardens. I've just re-upped for a CSA share with Eden Farms, and while it's too cold (so cold!) to put up my greenhouse yet, the seed and plant catalogs have started to arrive, and I can’t help but dream of new green shoots coming from fertile spring soil. I know I have a lot of work to do when all of this finally melts, though, because winter hit before I had time to mulch the vegetable garden or my flower beds. My usual rabbit manure supplier disappeared from Craigslist, and I had plans to get some horse manure one Saturday morning in November, but then it snowed, and I didn't want to drive in it, and, well, it all seems laughable now, 110 inches of snow later. I wish I could go back and kick my November self in gear now.

Mulch tackles a number of important jobs in the garden. Besides keeping weeds down, it maintains soil temperature better and more evenly, keeping the summer’s warmth in longer - as well as the winter’s chill. Mulch helps to control erosion from wind and rain and keeps moisture from evaporating, giving plants more time to soak up rain. As it decomposes, it enriches the soil, adding its nutrients and modifying its composition, making it more chemically and physically complex and better for plant growth. A well mulched yard or garden also looks much neater and is easier to work in.

So when is the proper time to mulch your flower or garden beds? Mulching in fall is a great idea to protect your plants from icy winds and bitter cold, but when spring comes, you’ll want to rake that mulch back until your seedlings sprout and grow a bit. This will allow the ground around your plants to warm up and will allow the rain to drain better and keep from waterlogging your soil, especially this year when we have up to 5 inches of rain in frozen form ready to be absorbed. Once the ground has warmed and dried up a bit, then it will be time to rake the mulch back and add more. How much mulch is enough? The USDA recommends a total of 2-4 inches of bark or wood mulch, spread evenly over the entire area being covered.  If more quickly decomposing matter is used - such as leaves or compost - they advise using 3-4 inches. Measure your garden carefully to determine the volume of compost that you will need using this depth. It's early in the season, but some outlets, like Kamps are already offering discounts on landscaping products, including mulch.

If you didn’t mulch this last fall, don’t worry. That thick layer of snow we’ve had all winter has served as a kind of mulch protecting and insulating your plants. It will likely be a wet spring, but your perennials will eventually peek up out of the soil and then spread their leaves and bask in May’s sunshine - as will the rest of us.