With the warm temperatures we had in February, and with the lack of rain in the middle of our rainy season, our plants have to be confused. I am certainly confused. The plants are growing and budding earlier than normal.  The farmers are praying they don't get an end of season hard freeze which would damage those delicate buds

On top of that baseline confusion, I noticed something else that was off in my side yard.  I have to admit that I don't make it out there very often in the winter.  In wet years the dry creek bed of stones, that serves as the only walkway is submerged, draining water off the property.  This year water wasn't an issue, but I was having some balance difficulties which made walking out there a little challenging.

When I finally made it out there, I saw two sights that were a bit odd.  The first most striking sight was my rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, bush.  Half was in full bloom with beautiful sky-blue blossoms.  The other half didn't have a single blossom but had lush green growth.  I know this is all one bush because years ago I planted an after-season rosemary   “Christmas” tree in a wine barrel.  Over the years the wine barrel has decomposed leaving me with a shrub growing out of a mound of soil.

The other strange looking thing was my pineapple guava, Feijoa sellowiana.  This looked to me like a turkey with large tail feathers.  Then it dawned on me what was going on.  It all goes back to a hurried afternoon in early December.  With that clue, I'll bet the other Master Gardeners are all nodding their heads with the answer.

The Master Gardeners of Solano County put on a Wreath Workshop each year in early December.  The main greenery used is Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, which is communally gathered.  However, the Master Gardeners also bring in additional greenery from their homes.

Usually, this gathering is done under less than optimal circumstances.  It's always cold, and it seems like we are always racing to get it done with the waning light.  Some years it is raining or still wet from a rain a few days before.  After cutting the branches it's all bagged up.  The next day it is transported to a central location where it is cut in smaller pieces, soaked in water, drained then boxed up for the workshop.

I was in charge of cutting the rosemary.  I avoided the left side of the shrub because it didn't have branches that were long enough for a wreath, possibly from being pruned last year. So, I cut extensively on the right side.  That December pruning, never an optimal time, stimulated branch and leaf growth, but at the expense of early spring blossoms. Because the left side hadn't been touched, it had beautiful flowers.  Because rosemary is so hardy, I expect the right side to bloom later in the season.

Rosemary (photos by Karen Metz)

But what about that strange-looking pineapple guava?  The explanation is that was as far as my husband could reach without bringing out the ladder.  He was doing the cutting and I was dragging it out and bagging it.  Decked out in our now dripping rain suits we were running out of time and daylight so we had called it a day leaving the back of the shrub near the fence unpruned.

Pineapple Guava

I do plan to haul out the ladder in the next couple of weeks to even out the pineapple guava.  A wonky side yard is a small price to pay for being a Master Gardener.

I squinted at the Romanesco head again.  Yep, still purple.  But the neighboring plant was the correct shade of vibrant green.  What was going on?  Were my plants diseased?  Or going through some strange second flowering?

It was none of the above.  It turns out that the plants were reacting to an unusually warm and dry February.  Romanesco broccoli (also known as Romanesco cauliflower) is a cool-weather vegetable in the Brassica family.  I planted the Romanesco in late fall in the hopes of a crop before temperatures rose in the spring.  For the first time after several unsuccessful attempts to grow Romanesco, everything was growing nicely . . . until I noticed certain Romanesco heads turning lavender and developing loose heads or “buttoning” (several small heads).

Sun, heat and Romanesco don't mix.  And when they do mix, they create purple!  The purple color is caused by anthocyanin, a harmless, water-soluble pigment that is exacerbated by sun exposure.  When the developing heads are exposed to sun and heat, they can turn purple.  Extreme conditions, such as heat, freezing temperatures, or drought also can cause loose heads.  We had had the driest February in over 150 years, which was unfortunate for my crop.  The heads tasted fine, but the texture was a bit grainier, probably due to the looser florets.  The other Romanesco heads remained green because they were sheltered from the sun and heat by the plant's leaves. 

There are several ways to prevent the plants from turning purple in the future. 

• Schedule the period of head development for the cooler months.  That doesn't always work, as I found out this past February, but that was a (hopefully) extraordinary event. 
• If growing cauliflower, which can also turn purple, purchase a self-blanching variety.
• Blanch (cover) the head as it develops to protect it from the sun.  When the head is about 2 inches across, tie the outer leaves over it using a clip or twine. 

Or, learn to enjoy eating purple vegetables!

A while ago, my Dad's circumstances required him to change his living situation and location.  So, my Dad, my siblings and I got together to decide what would be best for him.  We all decided on Eugene, OR so he could be close to one of my sisters. 

He was most interested in moving into one of 200 apartments in Eugene's only 18-story high rise building, Ya-Po-Ah Terrace Retirement Apartments.  Prior to visiting, I saw a few pictures of Ya-Po-Ah and wasn't exactly thrilled about it – I thought that it looked like a high rise with no balconies, yard, etc.  This didn't seem like his taste, considering the homes he had raised us in had plenty of outside space to observe nature, hike in the hills, build tree forts, and create lovely gardens.

We planned a trip to go visit my Dad and sister in Eugene, mostly to make sure Dad was settled into his new home at Ya-Po-Ah.  When we got there, I was amazed at the beautiful landscaping surrounding this high rise; it wasn't just a stark tall building.  We visited Dad in his apartment on the 13^th floor and were delighted to see a beautiful view of a tall hill called Skinner Butte.  Skinner Butte was known as "Ya-Po-Ah", (meaning very high place) in the language of the Kalapuya, who inhabited the Willamette Valley prior to the arrival of Euro-American settlers in the 19th century.

He then took us out to a small outside balcony on his 13^th floor.  Each floor has two balconies for the residents to step out to get some nice fresh air, and enjoy the views without needing to go down to the first floor and out the door, which is nice, considering the elevator ride is not the quickest. 

One of our balcony visits offered an awesome view of numerous garden beds in a large section of the outdoor area. What an enjoyable sight!  There were several garden beds assigned to any of the residents who desired them!  It was so much fun to see how each garden bed was so unique - different heights and configurations, construction out of different materials, wheelchair friendly, etc.  And then the plantings in the garden - I love them all.  You can see all of the passion that these folks put into making their one garden bed their own, and when talking to them, so exciting to see how therapeutic these gardens are.

According to AARP, “an hour of gardening can reduce stress, boost bone density, and burn up to 300 calories, but if not done right, all of the bending, squatting, raking and lifting can compromise muscles and joints.” AARP The Magazine, July/August 2010: Linda Melone. 

This statement made me think about how well I am prepared for lasting a day of gardening without the regrets of next-day soreness.  Usually, I am pretty conscientious about my gardening ergonomics and selection of tools but I am always reminded by the many times that I went out and prepared for only a simple chore that turned into a hundred more. You know, like going out to quickly pull a few weeds, then snip a quick few branches, and it uncontrollably twirls into a full-blown gardening day that oftentimes turns into days recovering from sore muscles, low energy, and sunburn.

While on one of my recent marathons of again overdoing it in the garden, I did some research to remind myself of best gardening methods to prevent injuries and the stretching techniques I used when I was more of a runner but discovered that there is much more to learn. Here are a few tips I learned from my recent stint on the Internet with this subject:

Selection of Tools

• Use the right tools for the right job.  I know it is tough to know the differences sometimes, but don't just grab the closest shovel, like a transplanting shovel, when you actually need a digging shovel.
• Clean and sharp tools work much better than dull, dirty tools. 
• Gloves!  Try to wear them (even if you love getting your hands into the soil) to avoid getting cuts, chapping and cracking.  Also, it can't hurt to get tetanus shot every 10 years.  The gloves with sticky surface or gripper dots might come in handy when using tools and picking up a dime.
• Garden kneeler set, knee pads, or a rolling cart to sit on prevent knee injuries.
• Long-handed tools – rakes, shovels, stand-up weed pullers, and hoes extend your reach and reduce back pain.
• Ear equipment is useful when you have prolonged use of noisy power tools.
• Eye protection…you know, that branch that just about poked your eye out?
• Look for lightweight tools that are easy to handle.
• Extendible tools decrease bending and are great for folks using wheelchairs:  search on product maker's websites like Fiskars, Corno, Gripworks, Disability Work Tools.
• There are now a number of affordable electric hand pruners on the market that can help during an arthritic or sore muscle episode.
• Use tape, foam padding, or bicycle grips to improve grip and handle length on tools.
• For those of us who have “donated” tools to many gardens, paint them bright colors so you have a better chance of finding them!

Stretching Exercises and Posture

• Stretching and warming up is really important – treat this gardening activity just as you would like you were going out for a jog.  Go for a quick walk around the block and do some stretches to get the body and muscles warmed up and running.  Jumping right into gardening tasks before warming up can cause a lot of stress and injuries.  AARP (https://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-10-2010/More-Raking-Less-Aching.html) has some great exercises to help stretch and strengthen muscles for gardening tasks.
• When bending, the main muscles used are the abdominals, back, and legs.  To reduce straining, tighten leg muscles while bending forward and keep knees slightly bent. 
• Raking mainly uses core, shoulder and arms – keep the rake close to your body and use quick, short motions.
• When you push a wheelbarrow, you use a lot of muscles:  the main muscles used are quadriceps, hamstrings, chest, shoulders, and arms!  Make sure to load the wheelbarrow with the weight you can handle without straining.  Use leg muscles, not your back, to lift the wheelbarrow and then use arm muscles to move forward. A 4-wheeled gardening cart is more stable than the usual wheelbarrow that needs balancing while on the move.
• Need to do a lot of squatting? For squatting you will be using the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.  Glute injury can also be very disabling and hard to stretch and/or heal.  To minimize strain and injury, keep torso upright, lower yourself until your rear end almost touches the ground, and try to keep weight on your heels.
• Keep your back straight when possible to avoid back pain.
• Do not twist your back when performing a task – try to use the rest of your body.
• Tighten your abdominals to get your core working at its best.
• Keep movements flowing – do not stop abruptly.
• Use splints and supports as necessary and recommended by a physical therapist or physician.
• If items are too heavy, wait to get some help.  The short wait for help is a better alternative to months out of commission.

Garden Modifications

• Raised beds – great for those with back, knee or neck problems.  Try to make the raised beds 28-30” high, with easy access to the center so you can tend to the plants, and water from any angle without putting pressure on your back.
• Garden with pots, window boxes, and raised containers.
• Use retractable hanging baskets to easily pull up and down.
• Try to keep paths smooth for less tripping hazards and making it easier to pull wheelbarrow or cart.
• Install soaker hoses instead of dragging a hose around. (The plants usually like less watering, more deep soaking).
• Plant perennials instead of annuals for less digging out and replacement of plants.
• Adding organic material to the soil makes digging much easier! 
• Along with using the right tools for weeding, you can be proactive and minimize weeding by putting down a layer of newspaper and then covering with mulch or weed mats.

Final Reminders

• In warmer months, garden in earlier or later hours to avoid heat stress.
• Use sun protection – hat, sunscreen, UV protective clothing.
• Pace yourself!  Change your tasks every 15-20 minutes to protect muscles and joints – do some raking, change to digging, and then move on to some weeding, etc. every 15-20 minutes.
• Stay hydrated.  Drink a lot of water.
• To keep cool, use a towel or bandana around the neck, soaked in cold water.
• Work on a full stomach.
• Listen to your body and take breaks when necessary.

I hope these tips help prevent painful muscles and joints after a day of fun gardening – planned or unplanned!

Sources:

• Agriculture And Natural Resources Environmental Health and Safety, http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5810/43146.pdf
• Arthritis Foundation: Make Gardening Easier With These Helpful Garden Tools - Wednesday, May 6, 2015
• 2020 Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy: Gardening on Earth Day? You'll Want to Read This First
• AARP The Magazine, July/August 2010: Linda Melone
• HGTV: Accessible Gardening Techniques By:Jeff Stafford 1/2020