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Plants Clean The Air We Breathe Common indoor plants clean up the polluted air we breathe inside our homes, offices and other buildings. According to a two-year study conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), indoor plants can drastically reduce toxic chemical levels inside buildings with poor ventilation. To clean and refresh the air in an average 1, 800-square-foot home, NASA recommends placing about 15 plants in areas where the air circulates well. You can maximize the effectiveness of your natural air freshener by keeping your plants fresh. When a plant no longer looks fresh, discard and replace with another vibrant plant. According to NASA, plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing toxins from indoor air. Plants take in toxins and process them into "food" through a process called photosynthesis. Then, they expel oxygen into the air for us to breathe. The Air We Breathe Indoors May Be 100 Times More Polluted Than Outdoor Air. In fact, indoor air is often so polluted that it exceeds unhealthy levels for pollution set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An EPA report states that "indoor air pollution represents a major portion of the public's exposure to air pollution and may pose serious acute and chronic health risks." The EPA also estimates the economic impact of indoor air pollution to be in the tens of billions of dollars per year. Scientists have labeled the acute build-up of indoor air pollution "Sick Building Syndrome." Since most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, many are suffering health problems created and/or aggravated by Sick Building Syndrome. One way to protect yourself from Sick Building Syndrome is to place several plants in your home or office. They will breathe toxins for you and replace your air with fresh, healthy oxygen! Plants Protect Us From Harmful Chemicals Indoor plants are particularly effective in filtering from the air three chemicals responsible for many health problems. Benzene is a common solvent and is present in gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastic, rubber, detergents, pharmaceuticals and dyes. It irritates the skin and eyes, and chronic exposure to relatively low levels of benzene causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances, and diseases of the blood system, including anemia and bone marrow disease. Evidence also links benzene to cancer, leukemia, liver and kidney damage, paralysis and unconsciousness. Formaldehyde is found in almost all indoor environments. Major sources include urea-formaldehyde (UF) foam insulation, particle board and pressed-wood products. Consumer paper products, including grocery bags, waxed paper, facial tissue and paper towels are treated with UF resins. Formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory system. Recent research also suggests it may cause a rare form of throat cancer in long-term occupants of mobile homes. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is used in metal de-greasers, dry cleaning agents, inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives. The National Cancer Institute considers TCE a potent liver carcinogen.
Chinese Evergreen
Weeping Fig
Spider Plant
Golden Pothos Spring Open House
March 10th through March 31st, 2001 GARDENING IN SUN OR SHADE Our display garden filled with blooming trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and vines is sure to inspire you. This year's garden in the greenhouse features a home landscape with two different environments: a shaded area and a sunny site. THE GARDENS AT ASHCOMBE Come learn about the newly renovated Ashcombe gardens adjacent to our parking lot. Designed by our perennial grower, Bert Geer, these gardens provide ideas you can use in your home gardens and display mature specimens of plants. Maps and photos will be provided so you can plan to visit throughout the season. COMING ATTRACTIONS FOR 2001 Check out the new perennials, shrubs, annuals and herbs for 2001 Ashcombe will be offering for both the shady and sunny garden. JOB OPPORTUNITIES Ashcombe is a great place to work! Come get information on the many employment opportunities that will be available in the upcoming season. Employee discounts, serving a great clientele and a friendly work environment are just a few of the benefits enjoyed by our staff. SATURDAY, MARCH 10th
PROGRAMS IN THE MEETING ROOM
PROGRAMS IN THE GREENHOUSE Seed Starting Demonstration - Visit with Ken Kurtz from our Garden Supply department and learn the basic information on how to germinate and grow seeds for your garden. Replant Your House Plant - Bring in your pot-bound house plant and let our expert staff re-pot it for you. Soil is free! Rehabitat - Visit with staff and volunteers from Rehabitat, a Dillsburg facility dedicated to rehabilitating injured birds of prey and returning them to the wild. See up close owls and hawks that have been rehabilitated but are not capable of surviving on their own.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17th On this day, we have invited plant societies to come and share their passion and knowledge for plants. Visit with members from each organization and learn about their specialty as well as about their group. Four of the societies will be presenting slide programs throughout the day in our meeting room
PROGRAMS IN THE MEETING ROOM 10:30am "RHODODENDRONS IN CENTRAL PA" - Joe Minahan, American Rhododendron Society. Fee: $5.00 11:30am "DAFFODILS" - Richard Ezell & Leslie Sobol, Chambersburg Daffodil Society. Fee: $5.00 1:00pm "DAYLILIES: THE PERFECT PERENNIAL" - Diane Kendig, Delaware Valley Daylily Society. Fee: $5.00 2:15pm "IRIS" - Sterling Inerest, Susquehanna Iris Society. Fee: $5.00 PROGRAMS IN THE GREENHOUSE 10:00am-3:00pm- American Rhododendron Society - Chambersburg Daffodil Society - Cumberland Herb Society - District IV Federated Garden clubs - Mason Dixon Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society - Susquehanna Iris Society - Susquehanna Orchid Society - York Rose Society
There will be information available on the following: SATURDAY, MARCH 24th
PROGRAMS IN THE MEETING ROOM 11:00am "CREATING CONTINUOUS BEAUTY IN YOUR PERENNIAL GARDEN - Karen Olson, Ashcombe's perennial manager, will show you how to design a garden that will provide a burst of color in the spring, a succession of blooms through the summer and beauty into the fall. Fee: $5.00 1:00pm "COOL RETREATS: ARTFUL DESIGNS FOR SHADY PLACES" - Charles Cresson - an award winning author on gardening, a garden designer, nationally known lecturer and avid gardener. Hedgleigh Spring, his 2 acre garden near Philadelphia is known for its collections of rare plants and is often featured in books and articles. Charles will inspire you with ideas for an inviting design, interesting features to enhance your shade plantings and, of course, plant combinations to furnish the garden. Fee: $8.00 PROGRAMS IN THE GREENHOUSE
10:00am-3:00pm Growing Roses - Learn all about roses from our own rose enthusiast, Wayne Radabaugh. Composting - Cumberland County Master Gardeners - Visit with these Master Gardeners and learn all about backyard composting. SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST
PROGRAMS IN THE MEETING ROOM 11:00am "XEROSCAPE GARDENING - BEYOND CACTUS AND GRAVEL- Barbara Martin, a professional garden designer, horticultural consultant and garden writer. Learn how to create a garden that doesn't require lots of irrigation and discuss the 7 easy steps to waterwise gardening and present trees, shrubs and perennials that thrive on minimal water. You will find Barbara "gardening" on the internet where she produces her own site devoted to cottage gardening and telecommutes as horticulturist and columnist with the National Gardening Association. Fee: $5.00 1:00pm "THE EVOLUTION OF MY GARDEN" - Joanna Reed. Joanna will share memories and insight on the 61 year development of Longview Farm, her renowned personal garden in Malvern, PA. She began cultivating this garden in the Delaware Valley in 1940. With a background in art, she followed her new passion by studying at the Barnes School of Horticulture. Always looking to the future, Joanna developed her garden with a series of 5 year ("very flexible") plans. Her gardens are featured in many books and articles and are a destination for many visitors. Come hear the delightful tale of how these remarkable gardens evolved. Fee: $8.00 PROGRAMS IN THE GREENHOUSE
10:00am-3:00pm Plant Your Own Pansy Strawberry Jar - Learn how to pot up a strawberry jar with blooming pansies. Bring in your own planter or choose one from our selection and our staff will help you plant it. Soil is free! HOLD ONTO YOUR TICKETS!!! On the back of every class ticket for Spring Open House 2001, there is a coupon redeemable for $5.00 OFF any plant purchase!
Herbal Heritage Week There are many things still in the works for this special event, but here is a sneak preview...
Displays & Demonstrations Special Herbal Menu, Saturday, April 6th Area Businesses will be displaying their wares on Saturday, April 6th. These will include, Draper's Honey, Hobby Greenhouses, The Herb Merchant and more! Programs Wednesday, April 4th 7:00-8:00pm. Free 30 minute video on PA wildflowers. Thursday, April 5th 5:30-7:00pm. "Make Your Own Living Herbal Wreath" - $15.00. Friday, April 6th 6:30-7:30pm. "All About Salvias, the Herb of the Year" - $7.00. Saturday, April 7th 10:00-12:00noon. "Culinary Workshop" with Alexandra Basinski of Longwood Gardens. We are fortunate to have Alexandra join us to give a workshop on cooking with herbs. Alexandra comes to us from Longwood Gardens, where she teaches herb-related classes. She has been growing and cooking with herbs for many years. She completed the Aboretum of the Barnes Foundation's three year horticulture course and is a graduate of Longwood's Series I Certificate of Merit in ornamental plants program. She teaches at various adult schools in her area, as well as the Morris Arboretum, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the Rodale Research Institute. The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 7th from 10:00am until 12:00noon and the fee is $15.00. Seating is limited. Please call 766-7611 to make your reservation for what is sure to be an enjoyable and informative time. Children's Classes 2001
Pre-registration is required for each class and you may register for any class that is listed on this brochure. Call 766-7611 and ask for Andrea.
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED TO 20 CHILDREN PER CLASS
January 13th
January 27th
February 10th
February 24th
March 10th
March 24th
April 14th
April 28th
ASHCOMBE HOURS
Message From the President As the new year rapidly comes and goes, we have a brief opportunity during the inclement weather of winter to make plans for the future and improve our present skills. Thomas Edison wrote, "restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress." Can we learn something new each day? Are we fearful of our mistakes? Do we get caught up in the same old rut we've been in for awhile? There is so much to learn and understand that life without risks surely is uneventful and mediocre. Somerset Maughm wrote, "Only a mediocre person is always at his best." Here at Ashcombe, we are always striving to improve our customer service; looking for new ways to make your growing experiences pleasant and fruitful; as well as your total shopping experience. Our calendar of events lists some of what you can expect to find during the year at our unique garden center. As always, there will be changes in our store and products as we strive to bring you the best in gardening and eating. We sincerely hope this year will bring you a "growing" experience both personally and in your gardens. --Glenn M. Gross Previous Newsletters:
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