APLD MN Chapter

Vitamin G

2010-02-01T13:12:00.002-06:00

I attended a continuing education seminar at the University of Minnesota on Urban Ecosystems and Human Well-being this January. The research showed that we need habitat to be healthy socially, emotionally and physically. Frances Kuo focused her research on the need for trees and other landscape elements in our lives. Her research indicated the need to see nature out our windows, hear nature around us, and have nature be a part of the physical place we call home. This might be a yard, a window box, a patio with container gardens, or plants in the house. It can even be helpful to have pictures of nature around you.

The sound of nature is an important element in our well-being, as well. Children with sensor y issues are prescribed birdsong therapy. The birdsong CDs’ attune their hearing development to the uniquely high pitches. The sound of trickling water, rustling leaves, and crickets are sounds known to soothe and initiate relaxation. You might want to put your earbuds away the next time you are outside.

The social breakdown is evidenced in less courtesy, less supervision of children, more graffiti, more noise, crime, and increased aggression and mental fatigue. Psychological breakdowns include diminished attention and impulse control, less satisfaction with life and work, and more ADHD. Physically we can break down with longer recovery times from surgery, less self-reporting of being physically healthy, higher mortality in older adults, and higher rates of obesity in children.

Make sure your immediate environment is giving you a healthy dose of vitamin G.

Liisa Schmitt

Liisa Schmitt Landscape Design, LLC

New officers elected for 2010!

2010-01-04T14:01:00.002-06:00

The MN Chapter of APLD is proud to announce the newly elected officers of the chapter, who will start duty in their new positions in January!

President - Debra Ensteness

Vice President - Heather Wood

Secretary and Treasurer - Dorothy Pedersen

Congratulations and good luck!

P.S. Any inquiries about the chapter and meetings can now be sent to Dorothy at naturesgarden@comcast.net.

2009-11-03T14:48:00.001-06:00

Members,

The fall is flying by! It's hard to believe that in another few weeks we will be having our November meeting, where we hope to get back into our chapter's winter routine a bit. Many of us have not seen each other in a while. Please know that your attendance and input at this upcoming meeting is very important! We are hoping that you will make the time to come and reaffirm your commitment to the group, and help us determine the direction this chapter will take in the upcoming months. We'll have a framework for a year's worth of meetings, and hope you can help us to create interesting and valuable topics and events to complete it! For those of you in the outskirts of the Cities or the state, feel free to respond with any thoughts or ideas, especially ones that would help us to involve you more easily.

We have many things to cover, including the upcoming Northern Green Expo and certification, and will also discuss how you can be actively involved in small and defined ways to help this chapter move forward.

Please RSVP to heather.wood.designs@gmail.com to let us know you will attend and show your support for our small (but growing!) and meaningful chapter. If you know of someone who is interested in becoming involved in the chapter, please encourage them to come as well!

DATE: Wednesday, Novemeber 11th, 2009

TIME: 11am-1pm (please feel free to bring your lunch!)

LOCATION:

Pierre Bottineau Library, Sheridan Room

55 Broadway St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Link to library map

As always, let us know if you have any questions, comments or ideas.

Best,

Heather Wood

APLD MN Chapter Sec/Treas.

September Night Lighting Event!

2009-09-23T09:17:00.003-05:00

We are pleased to formally invite you to the next APLD event! We have organized an exciting night lighting event on September 23rd that will feature work by Outdoor Lighting Concepts, and will be hosted by owner Scott Erickson. We will be visiting and touring 3-4 private home landscapes that feature night lighting at its best. A shuttle between the sites in Wayzata will be provided by the company, as well as refreshments at the final site. Scott would like to especially encourage those designers and installers that do not currently have a lighting company or would like to find out more about working with a lighting designer, but of course everyone is welcome and is sure to experience something new.

For current chapter members this is a free event! The event fee is $20 for non-chapter members, prospective members or guests. We request your RSVP by Fri. Sept. 18th at noon. There may be limited space after that date. Please be sure to reply right away to heather.wood@energyscapes.com if you would like to attend!

If you are not a chapter member, payment for the event must be received on or before Monday Sept. 21st. Payment can be sent to:

MN Chapter of APLD

c/o EnergyScapes, Inc.

3754 Pleasant Ave S, Suite B3

Minneapolis, MN 55409

The event details are below, including several maps to help you get to the meeting point. Please contact me if you any questions. We can provide a cell number in case you need to arrive late and meet the group.

DATE: Wednesday, September 23

TIME: Meet by 7pm, event will run through 9:30pm

LOCATION: Parking details are included on maps. We will be meeting at the Wayzata Bay Plaza shopping center.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=rgvbk0766xkg&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=6187121&cid=518EF9AE72BA26DB!124&encType=1

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ssp=addf&num=10&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=44.971478,-93.506312&spn=0.022254,0.039697&z=15&msid=103877832374474742971.0004737fd9fc9f5001df2

We hope you can make it to what promises to be a great event!

Heather Wood

Ecological Designer

heather.wood@energyscapes.com

612.821.9797

March business panel event!

2009-02-25T16:29:00.004-06:00

This is a great opportunity to check out APLD! All prospective members are welcome to this free event where you are sure to learn something new. Please read the details for the event below and RSVP in the comments section. Just click where it says (3) comments at the bottom of the post, and include your name with a "yes I will attend" or "unable to attend".

DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2009

TIME: 12 pm - 2 pm

LOCATION: Pierre Bottineau Library, Sheridan Room
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=&daddr=55+Broadway+St.+NE+Minneapolis+55413&ie=UTF8&z=16

TOPIC: Business and financial experts panel

DETAILS:

Plan for the upcoming season with speakers/panelists that will include: a CPA, a banker, and an insurance agent that all work with small to large businesses, and who have experience with landscape design businesses
Each will do a short presentation and then open it up to your questions!
Bring your questions, or post them with your reply and we'll pass them on to the panelists ahead of time.
You are welcome to bring your lunch with you.
You must RSVP for this event! Space may be limited to the first 20 that sign up.

Any questions? Post them in the comments or email heather.wood@energyscapes.com.

Hope to see you there!

Heather Wood
MN Chapter Secretary/Treasurer

Carpooling for Arboretum Tour

2009-02-16T14:39:00.002-06:00

Wednesday's meeting is coming up fast! Please contact Cathy Waldhauser at cwald@bitstream.net if you would like to carpool into the Arb., and indicate whether or not you have a membership. Carpoolers will meet at the west end of the Target lot at 41 & 5 by 10:45.

We may also create a carpool coming from South Mpls. so please post a comment or contact Heather at heather.wood@energyscapes.com if you are interested in leaving from that location.

*As of now, Arb. non-member gate fees will still need to be paid by the chapter, even if they enter with a member; Arb. members will not need to be covered by the chapter.
*Remember to indicate at the gate that you are there for the APLD meeting so that you can get in without having to pay the entrance fee.
*Non-APLD members pay $10 toward the chapter for the event (but will have the gate fee covered for them).

Lastly, please remember to RSVP in the comment section, or to Heather, for the meeting if you have not done so yet. Hope to see you on Wednesday!

Cathy Waldhauser
CHW Landscape/Design, LLC
and McKay Nursery
763-529-3946

Bever Landscaping now hiring!

2009-02-11T12:02:00.003-06:00

Bever Landscaping is now hiring a new designer. Several of their designers are members of the MN Chapter of APLD and wanted to make this opportunity known to others. Check out their website for more information about the company: www.beverlandscaping.com. Contact Dan Drain at 651-426-7733 if interested.

February meeting: Plants with Winter Interest at the Arboretum

2009-02-05T13:59:00.004-06:00

This is a great time to check out APLD - invite your friends/co-workers as well! Everyone is welcome. Please read the details for the meeting below and RSVP in the comments section. Include your name, if you are interested in carpooling/what area you are in, and if you are interested in staying to ski. If you do want to carpool, please let us know by Monday Feb. 16th. We will arrange that and post carpool info here the day before.

DATE: Wednesday February 18, 2009

TIME: 11 am - 1 pm

LOCATION: MN Landscape Arboretum

Snyder Building

3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska MN 55318

TOPIC: Plants with Winter Interest (led by Peter Moe)

DETAILS:

$10 fee for non-members (paid to chapter); gate fee for everyone to be covered by chapter. Please let us know if you are a member or student and would normally receive free gate entrance.
Meet at 11 AM in Snyder Building lobby for field trip.
Bring your cameras and dress warm!
Outside tour followed by lunch and meeting inside, in room adjacent to cafeteria. Bring your own lunch or purchase one there.
We hope to have more presentations of healing garden concepts for North Memorial Hospital by members.
We would like to arrange carpools for those interested. There may also be a group staying to ski/snowshoe. http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/skiandsnowshoetrails.aspx

We hope that you can make it!

Under construction

2009-01-28T14:25:00.002-06:00

We are just starting this blog to allow for more communication between members. Please contact me if you would like to help or want more information!

Heather

heather.wood@energyscapes.com
MN Chapter APLD
Secretary/Treasurer