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Algae, Environment – Helping Our National Park Service

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Algae Bloom……sounds beautiful doesn’t it?  Well it is not exactly the type of bloom that we can all enjoy – especially our wildlife. There has been a lot of comment and press about the deceased fish found on our National Mall….and unfortunately mumbling’s of blame directed towards The National Park Service.  Not quite fair folks!!!  Algae bloom is the end product of our community not paying attention to how our behaviors affect the waterways. I first heard about algae bloom as a Central Rappahannock Master Gardener and clean up efforts on the banks of the Rappahannock River. Seeing this amazing green slime up close and personal was quite an experience for this city girl. If you can imagine a very thick green smoothie covering the surface of the water – you will know what algae bloom looks like.  Now imagine being a fish under that kind of surface and surviving. Kind of makes you gasp for air, right???

algae bloom ……so sad

How does algae bloom occur?  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, algae bloom occurs when algae that naturally lives in the sea and fresh waterways grows out of control.  Heat is also a contributing factor in the growth of algae bloom.  July was one of the hottest months on record for quite some time. When the algae is out of control it can directly affect not just wildlife, but humans as well.

Are all algae blooms toxic? Not all are toxic but if they block oxygen and light – guess what……survival of underwater species can be challenging at best.

What are we doing to contribute to increased algae bloom?  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we seriously need to rethink the need for fertilizer use. How much we use, where we use it as well as when the right time to apply can affect the environmental reaction to fertilizer use. Overwatering can also negatively affect our environment simply because when the water run’s off….it goes directly into the waterways that we depend on. If you check their website , there is a list of measure we can take to help our environment and not just look for someone to blame. Each of us are to accept responsibility as Stewards of this land to make positive changes in the treatment of our environment.

How can we help? Let’s consider rethinking the perfect lawn and garden and consider instead sustainable landscapes, xeriscaping and rain gardens.  Each of these practices would benefit our environment in such positive ways. From the types of detergents we use, how we wash our cars to monitoring our waterways and reporting siting’s to the proper authorities.

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Water way at the site of the existing Constitution Gardens …so sad

I am passionate about the environment and I take seriously my personal actions, as I curate my little green space on this earth. I am also passionate about Constitution Gardens, a project of The Trust for The National Mall. I took this photo at the site of the proposed Constitution Gardens on Our National Mall. If we do not take seriously our responsibility to our environment – who will?? As a member of the gardening community I challenge other gardeners, garden writers and communicators to see how we can help – not just our National Park Service –  educate the public on better environmental practices, so we will know that we have done our part for future generations.

Have you picked your park today???  My choice is still Constitution Gardens…….

Click here to find out more about the Environmental Protection Agency

Click here to find out more about National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Click here to find out more about the  National Park Service

To read more about Constitution Gardens, check out the following:

http://cottageitc.wpengine.com/all-things-beautiful/imagining-a-place-of-peace

http://cottageitc.wpengine.com/all-things-beautiful/constitution-gardens-we-can-grow-that

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Party with a Purpose -The Trust For The National Mall & Landmark Music Festival

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TWO MORE DAYS…..WILL YOU SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE OUR FRONT YARD?

Here is a reason to listen to some good music, make some positive memories, cultivate some memorable friendships and of course, a reason to party with a purpose. The purpose or cause is to raise attention and money for needed improvements in our  Front Yard – The National Mall. Now that is the kind of event I am more than willing to support. Let me explain.wpid-20150426_125256.jpgOn May 20th, I wrote about Imagining a Place of Peace. This place of peace will eventually be a recently redesigned Constitution Gardens.  However the reason for this event is bigger than Constitution Gardens, it’s about our entire Front Yard.  A place of multiple monuments, memorials, moments that are historical, as well as some personal moments for me.

Skipping along the Mall in my youth, I did not have the assistance of volunteers or docents, to help me find my way. Today there are volunteers and docent’s for The Trust For The National Mall, as well as The National Park Service to assist, inform, educate, and keep guests safe that have traveled to visit with us. In the summertime, I used to know how long it would take for me to get from the Monument end of the Mall or from the Nation’s Capitol to the Smithsonian Castle, just in time to not miss lunch with my Dad.  The Castle was our meeting place and the Security Guards knew I was Buddy’s daughter – I felt safe wandering the grounds of our Front Yard. Ah, those were the day’s…..times are very different now.  The distance seems to have almost doubled and the view has not been pleasant for years.IMG_3480

IMG_3486The turf on The National Mall was so unhealthy. The compacted soil gave a dismal foundation for turf to be healthy. There were more bald, bare spots than turf of any kind.IMG_3467

IMG_3471Efforts are underway to restore the turf and the ground it grows in, as well as repair the Cistern’s below.  The initial restoration has begun and looks terrific.  Who is behind this effort? The Trust For The National Mall in partnership with The National Park Service. Under the Leadership of John Akridge III, The Trust For The National Mall has begun focusing and publicizing efforts to restore Our Nations Front Yard.  Future generations will be able to participate in the care and use of this National Treasure – Our Front Yard. How exciting that the Landmark Music Festival recognized that this was worthy of  finding great artists, great food vendors, introducing innovative festival ideas and creating an end of summer event to remember. Did someone say party with a purpose?

Let me just say, if you go to the website – http://www.landmarkfestival.org, the details are ALL there.  Musicians like Drake, Wale, Albert Hammond, jr. and Daughter are a few of the artists performing for this event.  The line up is phenomenal….the website allows you to listen to a bit of the artists music…in case you are not familiar with artists like Son Little, The London Souls, Miguel or The Lone Bellow…just to name a few. I personally want to hear Daughter sing “Landfill”….and Miguel, of course, sing anything!

At a Festival of this magnitude, good…no GREAT food is in order. The OUTSTANDING, local Foodmeister, Celebrity Chef and recent HERO for standing up for his beliefs (if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU FOR THIS) Jose Andres,  Think Food Group, has curated some delicious memorable food that will linger on your palette as you groove to the music.  All this to raise money for the necessary improvements to continue in Our Front Yard.  Jose can’t do this alone,so there are other food partners, to numerous to mention….but a few names of note – Old Ebbit Grill, Oyamel, Rockland’s Bar B Q (I am tasting this now…mmmm) and what’s a DC party without Ben’s Chili Bowl?  TELL ME this is not going to be a great party for a purpose?

Other items that make me think that this will be talked about for years to come are:

This is a family friendly event. Children under 10 can hang out in kid land, as long as they accompanied by a ticketed adult. The organizers seemed to have thought of most reasons for anyone to say I can’t make it…LET’S GO!!

Five stages….40 artist’s….TWO DAYS of festivities

No selfie sticks (the website has a list of other items not allowed-including alcohol)…..amazing, making sure that comfort, safety and non obtrusive items are simply not an issue at this event….GENIOUS!

Another great offering that the organizers came up with is the ability to activate your armband and go cashless. Simply tap and pay for merchandise, food items, as well as drinks offered on the grounds of the festival. You can sync your debit card to pay as you go….HOW AWESOME IS THIS??

An event like this in West Potomac Park, to raise money that will go towards restoring and enhancing Our Nation’s Front Yard is quite exciting! To participate in an event that is sponsored and supported by C3 Events, Front Gate Tickets, Destination DC, The Trust For The Nation Mall and The National Park Service, as well as the music industry (and many others too numerous to name),  so that my grandsons will see a better National Mall when they grow older…how awesome is this???  I AM IN…ARE YOU?

For more information go to:

http://www.landmarkfestival.org
Can’t make this EPIC event, donate – http://www.nationalmall.org
To read more about Constitution Gardens check this out – http://cottageitc.wpengine.com/?p+2256

LET’S PARTY WITH A PURPOSE AS WE RESTORE OUR NATION’S FRONT YARD!

SEE YOU THERE!

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Imagining a place of peace. …….

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As I was talking to my Dad the other day, I was reminiscing about my travels as I search for all things beautiful in the garden…any garden, anywhere.  I shared with him how one of my favorite memories resurfaces when I close my eyes and reminisce about one of my favorite places of peace.   I hear the conversations of people surrounding me, hear the birds singing, children playing and gravel crunching underfoot…all while sitting, basking in the sun in the Tuileries,  Paris, France.  The traffic from the cars, buses and trucks were minimized as the sounds of people enjoying the place of peace, took over my senses.  The turf was green, the gardens maintained and it was quite relaxing just being in the moment.
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I thought of this as I sat in Constitution Gardens last evening. There were people on bikes, parents strolling with children, people taking the longer walk after work as well as joggers….enjoying the view, just being.

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I also noticed the crumbling sidewalks, the gunk in the water, the lack of something that would make more people pause to just enjoy the moment.  I also know about the vision that The Trust for The National Mall has for our hometown treasure, Constitution Gardens.  As I sat, in my hometown of Washington, DC, I envisioned people one day spreading blankets and enjoying a meal with friends and family, finding accessible bathrooms, having food options on-site, reading on the benches or under the trees and appreciating this beautiful place of peace. I can see how exciting it is for young people to have the opportunity to participate in making this actually happen.

Other than the traditional way of going online and donating (www.nationalmall.org), I hear there is this concert in September.  The 26th and 27th of September to be exact.  Everyone gets the opportunity to purchase a ticket and have the opportunity to attend the Landmark Music Festival. (www.landmarkfestival.org)  40+ Artists, 5 stages over the course of two days.  Sounds like the ultimate HOUSE PARTY TO ME!! This music festival will certainly add value to a donation towards making Constitution Gardens the AT HOME place of peace that I envision. I am amazed that 40 artists have decided that they are willing to take ownership of and play a part in the enhancement, as well as the beautification of our front yard….The Nation’s Front Yard. This is NOT your parents traditional fundraising event, this is one that any young person will be able to say, I helped re-create this Home Town Place of Peace by attending a concert.

What a fabulous way to engage our young people…create a party that will satisfy many different ages, genre’s and engage the future leaders of this country.  What a perfect way to help re-create  this hidden treasure, enhance and beautify our local place of peace – Our Constitution Gardens.

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