digging deep with cynthia brian Archives | VoiceAmerica Press Blog

Awaken Spring

Posted by

presspass on March 26, 2019

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1302/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Awaken-spring.html

“The ghostly winter silences have given way to the great spring murmur of awakening life.” Jack London

It all began when I witnessed the new growth unfurling on one of my loquat trees. The leaves were a mesmerizing bright green, like the color of lime with a hint of sunshine. Ah, sunshine, I thought! How I longed for warm, sun-drenched days. The darkness, cold, and wet of winter had begun to unravel my soul.

The rains throughout the winter, although welcome and necessary, have been torrential. The creeks are full and raging. If only we could save this H2O to quench summer thirsty landscapes.

Our hillsides are carpets of emerald grasses. The only hint that salvation was near was the happy stalks of the ubiquitous daffodils singing to the sky an end to the melancholia.

I wanted to bottle a bit of this luminosity from those loquat leaves so I did the next best thing…I painted my fingernails the exact color! An odd choice, I’ve been told, but I was hell-bent on awakening spring.

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1302/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Awaken-spring.html

The next day, the weather reports suggested that we would bask in sunlight for at least a week. My earthy polish must have summoned the gods of rebirth.

As if on cue, terra firma has erupted in a procession of power plants. Besides the narcissi and bergenia that have been blooming successively since January, we now witness muscari, tulip, hyacinth, ranunculus, anemone, oxalis, calla lily, azalea, freesia, Chinese fringe, blue star grass, and one of my favorite over-looked specimen, hellebore joining the parade.

Hellebores are a deer resistant, low maintenance perennial that stirs with blooms (actually sepals protecting the flower) before other plants. Known as the Lenten rose, they prefer partial shade, are evergreen and boast flowers January through May. If you plant them on a slope, you’ll be able to see the flowers more easily as their stems face downwards. Hybrids include shades of ivory, jade, maroon, pink, yellow, speckled, and fringed combinations.

As the soil warms and the daylight hours grow longer, it is time to prepare your garden for seeding by weeding, hoeing, and adding rich soil. This year I have chosen packets from Renee’s Garden (https://sh2543.ositracker.com/121062/9151) and have already jotted down when the seeds will be planted. At the end of March or beginning of April, I will be planting beets, leeks, and clarkia. In April I will add cleome, columbine, and dwarf dahlias. Brussels sprouts will wait for a summer sowing.

Pumpkin seeds that I’ve saved will be planted in late May in anticipation of Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you want to carve them, choose a fun variety such as Warty Goblin or Super Moon. For that delicious holiday pie, the go-to favorite is Pik-a-Pie. Pumpkins need a large area to grow making it essential to plan now to give your Curcubita pepo the room to thrive. Small pumpkins need a 12-foot area, medium pumpkins require 24 feet, and giants want a 36-48 feet space per plant.

Are you thinking of including perennials that will attract butterflies, bees, bats, and birds? The National Pollinator Garden Network has announced it has surpassed its goal of registering one million pollinator gardens. In just three years, 1,040,000 gardens were registered with the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. From tiny yards to public gardens, the million-plus gardens add up to a network of approximately five million acres of enhanced or new pollinator habitat. Offer a buffet with a diverse array of flowers, herbs, colors, fragrances, sizes, and shapes that will encourage these garden guards to visit and stay.

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1302/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Awaken-spring.html

The elegant tulip soulangeana magnolia adds beauty and structure to any landscape and now is the time to choose a specimen in full bloom at your local nursery. Blooming time varies with varieties and micro-climates. Santa Rosa plum and peach trees are radiantly blossoming and will soon form fruit. Crab apple will follow shortly. Hopefully, the rains won’t knock off too many buds.

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1302/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Awaken-spring.html

The frogs are chirping, birds are tweeting, and cows are mooing. The orchestra of nature waking up from its winter slumber is music to my ears. It’s time to polish our dancing shoes (and maybe your nails) as the vernal equinox has arrived with an equal balance of light and dark. The season of spring has sprung.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Reminders

CREATE a cutting garden for summer by planting delphiniums, snapdragons, and sunflowers.

VISIT http://www.RecycleSmart.org for dates of the 5^th Annual Compost Giveaway. Register to collect up to three yards of free compost or “black gold” which has been recycled from the green organic bins.

FERTILIZE lawns. Spring is also the second-best time after fall to install a new lawn or refresh an old one. If you are seeding, March and April are excellent times to scatter seed, especially before a rain. My preference is http://www.PearlsPremium.com for an almost weed-free, lush green ground cover.

ADD to your planting list aeoniums and other succulents as they require minimal maintenance and water, even in the hot months.

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1302/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Awaken-spring.html

CONTINUE to pick up the fallen camellias. I know I’m sounding like a broken record but camellias have a long blooming season and the ones that drop will cause a rot for next year’s bloom. Don’t stop picking them up and don’t add them to your compost or recycle bins.

BUY seeds for spring sowing from Renee’s Garden (https://sh2543.ositracker.com/121062/9151)

Through March 24 you can get FREE Shipping on orders over $20.00.

STOP mowing your lawns when the grass is wet or it is raining. Hearing the growl of lawnmowers when it is pouring outside boils the soul of my inner gardener. Cutting the grass when it is raining damages the grass blades and causes ruts and compaction. Inform your “mow, blow, and go” service providers to perform other tasks in inclement weather. A healthy green lawn will thank you for your restraint.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Hello Spring!

Pass the Mustard!

Posted by

presspass on February 26, 2019

Empowerment

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” William Blake

The thunder clapped. The lightning bolted. The skies opened.

Rain, life-giving rain.

The garden rejoices.

The lawn, browned from the hot summer and autumn, is once again a lush verdant emerald. Fresh new leaves are beginning to unfurl on plants presumed expired. Weeds are sprouting in every crevice and worms are back working their tilling magic. Tiny pink buds are exploding on peach trees, white blossoms already cover the flowering pears, and scarlet blooms of Chinese flowering quince, a member of the rose family highlight the barren landscape. We are smack in the middle of winter with the opportunity to learn, teach, and enjoy.

As you drive along the local roads, you’ll witness fields carpeted in yellow. This is the wild mustard plant, the magical staple of my childhood. Every year in March our walnut orchards would be blanketed in five-foot tall plants that provided my siblings and me abundant opportunities to build forts, hide from our parents, and make mustard leaf sandwiches. We’d collect the seeds, mix them with vinegar and sea salt, and make our own culinary creations. Our Dad would eventually till this beneficial cover crop back into the soil as a green manure to add nitrogen, increase drainage, and water retention.

If you planted seeds of edible greens and cool loving crops in the fall, you are now harvesting many members of the mustard family including cabbage, kale, collards, kohlrabi, broccoli, yellow mustard, bok choy, and cauliflower. Buds of Brussels sprouts are forming their “sprouts” in the axils of leaves on the stalk. Flavor improves with Brussels sprouts after two or more frosty nights. The mustard family includes the genus Brassica whereby most of the leaves and flowers taste peppery. Since the flower pattern is in the form of a cross, the plants are referred to as cruciferous. Called super-foods, cruciferous vegetables pack a punch with disease- fighting phytochemicals, attributed to preventing cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Brassicas are also nutrient and fiber-rich with healthy plant omega-3’s, vitamin A, C, E, B-1, and folic acid. They are easy to grow from seed in well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost. Because Brassicas are prone to pests and soil-borne diseases, make sure to practice crop rotation and never compost the roots. Although you can use recycled containers to start seeds indoors in the winter, these plant varieties are more successful when seeds are sown directly in the garden.

With the recent outbreaks of e.coli infections found in a variety of leafy greens and specifically romaine lettuce, growing your own vegetables is not only less expensive, but it is safer because you have the power to control what goes into your soil. Seeds of arugula, Swiss Chard, lettuces, spinach, scallions, sorrel, fennel, and nasturtium can be succession scattered to ensure year-round eating pleasure.

Your vegetable garden has the potential to feed your family throughout all four seasons at a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay for equivalent produce at the market. In winter, you will rarely have to turn on a water source, and you can fertilize with your homemade compost. When you save the seeds of your favorite plants, you also won’t have to buy new seed packets. During every planting period consider adding an unfamiliar crop that you’ve discovered by perusing seed catalogs.

Even when the inclement weather is keeping you bundled by the fire indoors with a cup of hot tea to ease your sore throat, if you’ve taken an hour or so to sow your favorite seeds, germination will be happening underground. One sunny day you’ll walk outside to witness the miracle of nature.

Voila! Instant leafy greens sown and grown in your personal hearty-health home garden.

Pass the mustard!

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide for February

PICK UP the fallen blooms of camellias to prevent the fungus Camellia blossom rot which causes blooms to turn brown from the center out. Do not compost spent blossoms. Put the dead blooms in the trash bin.

https://www.cynthiabrian.com/gardening

USE Chinese flowering quince as a spiny hedge or barrier.

DON’T mow your lawn after a rain when the soil is too moist or you will damage the grass and cause rivets in the soil.

PLANT seedlings of celosia next month for a late spring show.

FINAL time to heavy prune your roses. Dig canes in a rooting solution and plant in rich soil in small containers to give as summer hostess gifts.

GROW your own Brassicas and leafy greens by sowing seeds in succession.

MAKE homemade mustard from the seeds of wild mustard by grinding them and adding salt and vinegar.

PRUNE and shape pelargoniums and geraniums for fuller flowering.

WASH leaves of indoor plants that are dusty. Re-pot if necessary.

FEED the birds as winter is challenging for them to find essential food.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

View photos and read more at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1226/Cynthia-Brians-Digging-Deep-Pass-the-mustard.html

Cynthia Brian

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store.

http://www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

Donate to Fire Disaster Relief via Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 at www.BethestarYouAre.org

Love is a Rose!

Posted by

presspass on February 12, 2019

Empowerment

“Everything is coming up roses!” Ethel Merman

When Cupid shoots his arrow of amour on February 14th, more than 51% of the flowers bestowed upon the lovers will be roses. The allure of roses dates back more than 5,000 years when rose cultivation began in China. Evidence in fossils indicates that the wild rose is as ancient as 35 million years. No wonder that the rose has symbolized beauty, love, politics, and war for the past five centuries in our modern world.

Roses possess a classic beauty with an unrivaled diversity of shapes, sizes, colors, and fragrances. Blooms may be solitary and delicate, semi-double, open cupped, rosette, pompon, peony-like, buttoned, and ruffled. They may be single stemmed or present a bouquet of several blossoms on a stalk. Newer disease-resistant varieties brag continuous flowering from the first bud in spring to the final pruning in winter.

Best of all, with a little know-how, roses are one of the easiest plants to grow in our gardens offering perennial joy. Plant them in a formal garden bordered by boxwoods, or add varying heights of roses to a casual mixed backyard bed. Pop them in containers to add elegance to a porch, patio, or balcony. Train climbers and ramblers to grow on arches, gates, trellises, fences, and walls adding vertical appeal.

February is an excellent month to plant bare root roses.

How to plant bare root roses

1. Decide where you want to plant roses. Although some varieties will tolerate a reasonable amount of shade, most roses require at least four hours of daily sunshine.

2. Once you know the “where”, you can decide the “which”. Peruse rose catalogs and visit your nursery. You want to purchase the right rose for the right purpose. Make sure that the bare-root roses you select are healthy and sturdy. If planting more than one, it is best to purchase the same color and type of rose in uneven numbers. For example, buy three or five of the same rose for preferable impact.

3. Soak your roses overnight in a bucket of water to rehydrate them.

4. Dig a hole large enough to allow the roots to spread.

5. Spade the soil well and add compost.

6. After removing each rose from the bucket, place the bare roots of each rose in a separate hole. The bottom of the stems needs to be two to three inches below the top of the hole.

7. Replace the soil and tap around the rose with your foot until the ground is firm.

8. Water slowly and deeply.

9. Mulch with bark, shredded wood, or pine needles to three inches of thickness. This prevents erosion, controls temperature variations, suppresses weeds, and makes for a prettier presentation.

Maintenance of your rose garden

1. Watering properly is key to healthy roses. Water deeply without flooding and be cognizant of your sprinkler system to assure that your roses are not over or under irrigated.

2. Fertilize in March, then approximately eight weeks apart starting in May through September. For my first feeding, I like to use alfalfa pellets mixed with diatomaceous earth.

3. Although the new varieties of roses are more disease resistant, black spot, rust, and powdery mildew remain the culprits to control. Destroy any diseased, fallen leaves.

4. If you have a plethora of other flowers, your garden will have developed a more natural eco-system, keeping most pests away. Aphids can be sprayed with soapy water, or introduce ladybugs.

5. Deadhead as flowers wilt and prune stems back one and a half feet after flushes of flowers to shape your plant.

6. Once a year, usually towards the end of January, heavy prune roses removing any dead, diseased, or damaged stems. Old wood can be cut from older roses to encourage fresh growth. Shrub roses can be pruned 1/3 to 2/3. Hybrid teas and floribundas should be pruned to ¾. Leave ramblers alone or shape them according to your wishes. Remove the dead wood on climbers and cut the year’s flowering stems back to ¾.

Whether you decide to cultivate shrub roses, old roses, rambling roses, climbing roses, hybrid teas, tree roses, or floribundas, you will be rewarded with beauty, fragrance, and the ability to create sweet-scented arrangements throughout the year.

For Valentine’s Day, consider giving your loved one a bouquet of roses and a bare root plant! Double the pleasure! Everything is coming up roses!

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for February

• IDENTIFY: With the rains, fungi are at their edible best. If you don’t know how to identify mushrooms that grow in your garden, do not eat them. Buy from a reputable source and enjoy the impressive nutritional benefits of this humble fungus. Whether you eat shitake white, oyster, hen-of-the-woods, Portobello, or others, mushrooms are brimming with phytochemicals, antioxidants, and fiber, all which are packed with anti-inflammatory properties that can protect you from numerous diseases.

• APPRECIATE: Daffodils and narcissi have unfurled their blooms suggesting the promise of Printemps.

• BUY: Growing with the Goddess Gardener is a gift that will give perennially. Order copies with extra freebies at http://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store.

• PERUSE catalogs to create your plan for spring planting.

• FIND a rose with the same name of your partner. If you have the dollars, there are companies that will allow you to name a rose.

• ENJOY this final month of garden rest before the busy spring season arrives.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy Love Day!

Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1225/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-February-Love-is-a-rose.html

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store.

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

Donate to Fire Disaster Relief via Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 at www.BethestarYouAre.org

Joy to the World

Posted by

presspass on December 18, 2018

Empowerment

Only those who go where few have gone can see what few have seen.~ Buddha

Did you know that poinsettias grow into trees? Or that mother’s tongue, also known as snake plant, is an excellent fence barrier? Without a thought from whence a plant derives, most of us buy our indoor plants at nurseries, grocery stores, and big-box centers. Our holiday décor includes colorful tropical specimens that thrive inside.

On a quest to discover the flora and fauna that bring joy to our world, I traveled to Cuba with a program in support of the Cuban people. Throughout my journey, the diverse and unique landscape constantly changed as our small group of six plus an informative Cuban guide hiked through nature reserves, parks, rainforests, and into the magnificent Escambray Mountains. In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba describing it as “the most beautiful land that human eyes had ever seen.” Supporting 7,500 species of flowering plants with more than 53% being endemic, Cuba is a garden lovers paradise.

The rivers, grottos, caves, and waterfalls were dotted with gigantic tree ferns, indigenous species of orchids, tillandsias (air plants), bromeliads, and palms as well as banana, mango, papaya, orange, and grapefruit trees. Philodendrons twined up fifty-foot trees and Ixora commonly called jungle flame or jungle geranium, firespike, and ginger flanked the narrow footpaths.

Fields of sugar cane, coffee plants, and tobacco straddled the lowlands and hillsides. We traversed log bridges over rushing rivers in Topas de Collantes and were mesmerized by the delicate mimosas. Their leaves instantly closed with the touch of a finger.

We tiptoed on rocks crossing trickling streams and swam in the poceta de cristal or crystal pond under a waterfall near the top of the mountain.

A sign on the tree read salto los desparramaderos: translated means “jump the scatters”. Chuckling, we jumped numerous “scatters”! Tall thick spires of bamboo led to the mouth of the river where rocky stalactites hung from the ceiling of caves and the rocky formations of stalagmites rose from the cavern floor.

We were fortunate enough to witness the unique Cuban national bird, the trogan tocororo, sitting on a limb in the forest. Its striking feathers are red, white, and blue reflecting those of the national flag. It is said that this endemic bird found only in Cuba will die of sadness in captivity, symbolizing the desire of the people to always be free. It was called guatini by the Taino Indians and is also known as the onomatopoeic tocoloro because of its song.

At lunch one day under a thatched canopy, we met the largest endemic land mammal in Cuba, the friendly and curious social rodent, the Cuban Hutia. Prized as a rare delicacy, it lives in trees and is almost extinct because of over-harvesting. We stopped at a lunch hut in the Zapata Swamp another afternoon but didn’t see any Cuban crocodiles, an endangered species found exclusively in Cuba.

The produce on this island is always organic, fresh, and delicious. When I commented about the importance of growing and eating organic, our guide informed us that farming organically was not a choice but a necessity because the cost of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides are prohibitively expensive. Growing organic is cheaper than using chemicals in farming. Fruits and vegetables are only eaten in season. Pineapple, guava, and bananas are the sweetest I’ve ever tasted anywhere. In Havana, carts of tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, beets, bananas, and cucumbers are pushed through the streets offering a daily rolling farmer’s market to the populace.

Nature is what attracted me to Cuba and it didn’t disappoint. After hiking, biking, snorkeling, kayaking, bird watching, horseback riding, and examining the flora and fauna of the island, it was the people that stole my heart.

They have so little economically speaking, yet they are joyful, full of life, and welcoming to Americans. In the casa particulares where we stayed, tiny Christmas trees or frayed holiday trinkets brightened the small rooms where families gathered, a far cry from the Disneyesque Christmas spectacle I’m accustomed to in my family. Speaking Spanish to several Cubans, I learned of dreams to travel and hopes for a freer future.

Not many Americans have had the opportunity to visit this impoverished, yet beautiful Caribbean nation. If you are one of those individuals who want to see what few have seen, consider supporting the Cuban people. You’ll be rewarded with a visit of joy, diversity, and plenty of grateful hugs!

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for Bringing a Slice of Cuba to your Landscape

Cuban plants that make great houseplants in California:

Ixora, commonly called jungle flame, flame of the woods, or jungle geranium with clusters of star shaped flowers.

Poinsettia, a Euphorbia pulcherrima, is the most well-known holiday flower. Although red is the most popular color, the bracts are available in pink, white, salmon, and bi-colors. Poinsettias love warmth and humidity and in Cuba grow to be trees.

Tillandsias, the largest genus in the bromeliad family, are air plants that will cling to anything. Natural light, soaking, and misting will keep them happy.

Bromeliads, add a touch of the tropics to every home. With flowers of pink, red, and maroon, they require minimal care. Fill the cup at the base with water and let them thrive.

Philodendrons are easy care houseplants. Vining philodendrons need a pole to climb; non- climbing will grow upright without any support. They like bright, indirect sunlight, and enjoy an occasional vacation outdoors in the shade.

Snake plant, also known as mother’s tongue, is one of the air freshener plants. It requires almost no care at all and will keep you breathing freely.

Mimosa pudica, a perennial herb in the pea family, is the touch-me-not-plant. When touched it closes its leaves, titillating audiences.

Cuban plants to grow in your garden:

Gloryblowers (Clerodendrum) make excellent choices for trellises, poles, and other structures in full sun as climbers. Since they are tropical, they need to be protected from frost.

Coleus, painted nettle plant, grows outdoors when it is warm, but being a tender specimen, are best grown as a container or houseplant.

Royal Palm will grow to 60 feet in frost-free areas and is moderately drought resistant, bringing the sway of the island inland.

Bamboo is a fast-growing giant grass that makes an excellent privacy screen. Beware, certain species of bamboo can take over, breaking concrete and sidewalks.

Firespike, odontonema strictum, is an evergreen shrub that tolerates drought producing brilliant panicles of tubular waxy flowers summer through winter.

Ginger, both ornamental and edible, is easy to grow and incredibly pretty. To grow edible ginger, just break off a piece of a healthy, plump ginger root that you buy at the store and plant in the location you want. Leaves die back in winter. Harvest whenever you need to add spice to life!

Look around your house and garden to identify what botanicals you are growing with a Cuban origin. Wishing you a beautiful holiday season of joy, peace, gratitude, and love.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Feliz Navidad y Feliz Jánuca!

https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1221/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Joy-to-the-world.html

Cynthia Brian

Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store.

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

Donate to Fire Disaster Relief via Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 at www.BethestarYouAre.org

Halloween Spooktacular, Trick or Treat for Literacy

Posted by

Editor on October 16, 2015

Empowerment

Halloween Spooktacular, Trick or Treat for Literacy

The season of screams and scares is officially here! Halloween is the time to embrace your inner ghoul. Health Matterâs Heather Brittany keeps you safe during her favorite spooky holiday with tips and tricks.
Legend has it that garlic repels vampires and wards off the evil eye. Popularized by Bram Stokerâs Dracula, garlic not only is effective against the blood-sucking princes of the night, but also fends off the undead, including witches, warlocks, and werewolves. Â Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian tells us how to plant, store, and use this miracle vampire repellent.

Special guest, Be the Star You Are!Â® Teen Ambassador and Host of Express Yourself!â¢ Teen Radio, Henna Hundal joins the conversation to talk about Trick or Treat for Literacy, her Halloween favorites, and making a difference with her BTSYA volunteerism.

For some spooktacular holiday inspiration, StarstyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!â¢ will shoot you into the spirit of Halloween faster than you can say BOO!

Listen at VoiceAmericaÂ

Listen at StarStyle Radio with photos and descriptions

Help Be the Star You Are!Â® without spending a penny. If youâve ever purchased a TV or computer screen, just 3 minutes of your time is needed to fill out the simple form and click submit. Every unit qualifies for a donation of about $20 to Be the Star You Are!Â®. You will receive a tax receipt once the donations have beenÂ dispersed. PLEASE do this today. Thanks from Be the Star You Are!Â®

Read about our SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEERS: READ AT PRESS PASS

Catch up with all broadcasts on ITunes

Buy books by Cynthia Brian
Check out the online fundraiser for BTSYA
Amazon
The award winning positive talk radio program, StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â® broadcasts on the Voice America Empowerment Channel LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5pm Pt/7-8pm ET.. Â Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany are the Mother/Daughter dynamic duo who have been co-hosting this program live weekly since 1998 bringing upbeat, life enhancing conversation to the world. With Cynthia’s expertise in interviewing the trailblazers, authors, and experts and Heather’s healthy living segments, these Goddess Gals are your personal growth coaches helping you to jumpstart your life while igniting your flame of greatness.
Brought to the airwaves under the auspices of the literacy and positive media charity, Be the Star You Are!Â®,Â each program will pump your energy to help you live, love, laugh, learn, and lead.

Tune in the Power Hour every Wednesday from 4-5pm PT/7-8pm ETÂ and join our empowerment party.
For photos, descriptions, links, archives, and more, visit StarStyle Radio.
Get inspired, motivated, and informed with StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â®
Lend us Your Ears!!!
Make a donation today to Be the Star You Are!Â® charity

Cynthia Brian talks about the empowering outreach programs offered by Be the Star You Are!Â® charity.

Digging Deep-Gardening with Cynthia Brian

Posted by

Editor on December 19, 2014

Categories

Digging Deep-Gardening with Cynthia Brian

Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature.Â ~Andy Rooney

When my children were youngsters, cutting a tree wasÂ theÂ big event of the season. Weâd don our Santa hats, grab a bundle of rope to tie the tree to the top of the car, put film in the camera, and off weâd go, singing Christmas carols while plotting our adventure. It could take hours walking through a farm, checking out tree after tree, debating the merits of each. Sometimes weâd visit two or three farms before findingÂ theÂ perfect one. Afterwards, at home with our freshly cut treasure, weâd light a fire, drink hot cocoa and eggnog, eat persimmon pudding and Italian panetone, put on the Christmas music, and dance around the house as we spruced the fir with popcorn and cranberry strings, homemade ornaments, tinsel, and of course, plenty of twinkling lights.

One day my son had the bright idea that we should grow our own Christmas trees in order to have a never-ending supply of Yuletide enchantment. With the best planting season for evergreens between January and March, as soon as the small containers of conifers went on sale for $1.00 post holiday, we nabbed twenty for our forthcoming Christmas tree farm. We chose a prime spot at the top of our hill, prepared the plot, cleared the weeds, planted the seedlings, protected them with wire from marauding munchers, maintained soil moisture, and waited. The kids were very attentive toÂ theirÂ trees. By year three, pruning and shaping the trees into conical forms began. Who knew that âChristmas treesâ didnât automatically grow into perfect Christmas specimens? By year seven, they cut their first glorious imperfect tree and by year thirteen all of the trunks were too large for any tree holder. Instead of cutting another tree, we potted a large Norfolk pine, added it to our entrance, where this oxygen producing, carbon dioxide absorber has served as our beloved arbre de Noel.

History, legend, or a combination of the two chronicles the tales of 16^thÂ century Germans bringing evergreens into their homes as holiday decor after Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, witnessed the stars sparkling through the forest trees and cut a tree to enjoy indoors. In 2014, Christmas trees are as significant to American culture as apple pie. But it wasnât until 1848 that Puritanical America embraced the idea of the âpaganâ Christmas tree.Â The ever-popular Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert were sketched with their children gathered around a decorated Christmas tree and East Coast society adopted this new fashionable trend. Currier and Ives jumped on the bucolic family festivity bandwagon by immortalizing vintage America in historic lithographs of cozy Christmas scenes including sleigh rides, crackling fires, candle lit chapels, snowmen, and tree decorating.

Yet, the love of winter evergreens was celebrated long before the arrival of Christianity. In ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra was honored on the longest night of the year,December 21, and the shortest day,Â December 22Â with palm frond decorations to symbolize life over death. The Romans marked the solstice with evergreen boughs in anticipation of a prosperous spring.Â The Druids used greens as symbols of eternal life while the Vikings believed that evergreens were the chosen trees of their sun god, Balder.

With the advent of electricity, Thomas Edison presented the possibility of twinkling tree lights without as much fire danger from branch tied candles. Europeans preferred small trees of four feet, Americans sought plants that would reach the ceiling. Decorations in the early days included strands of nuts, berries, apples, and popcorn. Today, a fortune can be spent on accessories and unique ornaments fit for a king from hand carved Nativity scenes to hand blown glass angels.

When to buy, cut, and trim the tree vary from country to country. Many American families get into the December spirit immediately following Thanksgiving while many Europeans wait until Christmas Eve to launch their rituals. Evergreen garlands, boughs, ivy, mistletoe, wreaths, poinsettias, and holly join the enticing kitchen aromas of gingerbread, marzipan, and hot mulled wine making our Christmas castles merry and bright.

Grown in all fifty states, Christmas tree farming is big business, although it is mostly small farmers who do the growing, planting as many as two thousand trees per acre. Seventy seven million trees are planted annually as American consumers purchase approximately 30 million farm grown trees valued at more than $1 billion.Â Fresh trees (to me the only way to play) outsell artificial trees three to one. Young families who are starting their own traditions often prefer to cut-their-own at a Christmas tree farm, enjoying a day in search of the perfect tannenbaum, as our family did in years past.

As you banish the blues with the greens of a pine, fur, spruce, redwood, cedar, or cypress, youâll be rewarded with the fresh fragrance of the wild woods. Remember to keep your cut tree watered as most farmed trees are chopped down in October or early November then trucked to the retailer. While they wonât dry out outdoors, once indoors, your specimen will need a quart to a gallon of water per day depending on the size.

This year, whether your tree was grown on a plantation or in your backyard, bring the botanical brilliance of a live tree into your seasonal festivities and celebrate the magic.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

Your branches green delight us!

Wishing you seasonal sparkle, glow forth to enjoy being home for the holidays.

Cynthia Brianâs Mid Month Reminders

COOKÂ with either fresh or dried herbs. Youâll need more when you use fresh. Dried are more potent. For every tablespoon of fresh herbs in a recipe, substitute 1 teaspoon of dried.

CREATEÂ a stunning DIY holiday table arrangement using a combination of ornamental cabbage, lilies, evergreen branches, white roses, and pinecones.

LOOKINGÂ for a last minute gift that will be unique and useful? Check out your local garden retailers for holiday ideas, including a pot of drought resistant kalanchoe or a Christmas cactus in bloom.

TRIMÂ low hanging branches of redwoods, pines, firs, and other evergreens to use in wreaths, garlands, and holiday ornamentation.

CAREÂ for your land and your land will care of you. Our good earth is Mother Natureâs Christmas gift to us.

Happy gardening, happy growing, fa la la la la!

Cynthia Brian

Holiday Feasts, Green Prints 25th Anniversary, November Garden Guide

Posted by

Editor on November 25, 2014

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Holiday Feasts, Green Prints 25th Anniversary, November Garden Guide

Welcome to StarstyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â® with your hosts Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany on the Voice America Empowerment Channel.Â We strive to be useful, informative, interesting, entertaining, and unique as we seed, stimulate, and support space for positive, meaningful conversations. Instead of waiting for something better, we hope to help you create it now. Â

Whatâs on your menu for the holidays? Are you roasting, barbecuing, deep frying? Do you offer plenty of leafy greens and vegetables to your guests? Heather Brittany and Cynthia Brian set the table with a healthy feast that doesnât bust your britches.

Pat Stone was the Garden Editor ofÂ Mother Earth News MagazineÂ for twelve years before he establishedÂ GreenPrints,Â the Weederâs DigestÂ to share the joys, heart, and soul of gardening. The winter issue ofÂ GreenPrintsÂ marks the 25^thÂ anniversary.Â Cynthia Brian interviews her co-author of the New York Times best seller, Chicken Soup for the Gardenerâs Soul, to talk gardening and twenty-five years ofÂ GreenPrints.

What is there to do in the November garden? The leaves have turned their bright sunset colors, many trees are already bare, and we gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday. Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian strolls through her autumn yard with gratitude and grace. Â Listen at Voice America and at StarStyle Radio with photos and descriptions.Â

SPECIAL BOOK SALE FOR THE HOLIDAYS:Â Buy Be the Star You Are!Â®, Be the Star You Are!Â® for Teens, or The Business of Show Business for the ULTRA DISCOUNTÂ (55% off)Â PRICEÂ of $9.99 plus shipping throughÂ December 31. Buy ONLY at ourÂ STOREÂ and ask for personalized inscriptions.Â

Catch up with all broadcasts on ITunes

Buy books by Cynthia Brian

Congrats to everyone who volunteers and supports Be the Star You Are!Â®. BTSYA has been named a 2014 TOP NON PROFIT for the 6th straight year and is one of the first to be awarded this honor by Guidestar and Great Non Profits. Read more at Press Pass.

The award winning positive talk radio program, StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â® broadcasts on the Voice America Empowerment Channel LIVE everyÂ Wednesday from 4-5pm Pt/7-8pm ET.Â Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany are the Mother/Daughter dynamic duo who have been co-hosting this program live weekly since 1998 bringing upbeat, life enhancing conversation to the world. With Cynthia’s expertise in interviewing the trailblazers, authors, and experts and Heather’s healthy living segments, these Goddess Gals are your personal growth coaches helping you to jumpstart your life while igniting your flame of greatness.

Brought to the airwaves under the auspices of the literacy and positive media charity, Be the Star You Are!Â®,Â each program will pump your energy to help you live, love, laugh, learn, and lead.

Previous guests and fans of the program on World Talk Radio will always be able to access the archives.

Tune in the Power Hour everyÂ Wednesday from 4-5pm PT/70-8pmETÂ and join our empowerment party.Â For photos, descriptions, links, archives, and more.Â Get inspired, motivated, and informed with StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â®

Lend us Your Ears!!!

Make a donation todayÂ to Be the Star You Are!Â® charityÂ

Be the Star You Are!Â® Radio

If you are a fan of the authors, experts, celebrities, and guests that appear regularly on StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â® radio, you can now be sure to never miss an episode. Embed this code into your WordPress site or any site and you’ll always have Cynthia Brian, Heather Brittany, and all of your favorite pioneers on the planet at your fingertips.Â Upbeat, positive, life-changing talk radio broadcasting live each week since 1998. Lend us Your Ears. We are StarstyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!Â®

Congratulations to Cynthia Brian and Heather Brittany for 12 years of weekly LIVE broadcasting of StarStyleÂ®-Be the Star you Are!Â® on Voice America/World Talk Radio. Tune in WednesdaysÂ 4-5pm PT/7-8pm ET. Archives, photos, descriptions and more are available at all times. The program is brought to the airwaves as an outreach program of Be the Star You Are!Â® charity.Â Lend us your ears!

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for November By Cynthia Brian

Posted by

Editor on November 15, 2014

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Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for November By Cynthia Brian

âThere is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky.â Percy Bysshe Shelley

With the approach of Thanksgiving, it is finally feeling like autumn with cooler and crisper air, changing of the leaves, and chrysanthemums blooming. I picked my first bouquet of narcissi of the season on October 10, a full month earlier than last year. Our climate is changing and as gardeners we struggle to keep pace. November is the best time to begin planting spring blooming bulbs. Once the ground chills to about 55 degrees, start the process of planting naturalizing narcissi as well as other bulbs in well-drained sandy loam where theyâll receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. With our dense, nutrition lacking clay soil, we need to amend with sand, peat moss, and compost before digging the holes. All flower bulbs require neutral PH soil around 7.0 in order to develop a strong root system that supports flowers. Mother Nature is busy spreading her wild seeds via the wind, birds, animal fur, and even our stocking feet. Most flowers need the next few colder months to rest and germinate. Before the geese head south, walk around your yard to ponder what youâll want to improve, include, edit, or change for the spring. Our year of outdoor work is winding down as our celebration of gratitude approaches. Get ready for a respite!

â« PROTECTÂ plant roots by mulching your garden.

â« GRINDÂ fallen leaves with a mower to reduce particle size and increase decomposition time.

â« TURNÂ the soil in your vegetable garden, pull out any unwanted growers such as mint, add buckets of compost, and plant a nitrogen rich cover crop like fava beans or clover. Blanket the ground with straw and continue mulching until planting time in spring.

â« SUPPRESSÂ weeds while enriching the soil by laying newspaper (three or four sheets) on your bare earth. The newspaper will biodegrade and the zinc in the inc adds nutrients to the mulch. Cover with straw, leaves, or wood chips to continue adding nutrients.

â« DIGÂ up bulblets of mother bulbs with numerous offshoots. Separate and replant in other areas.

â« SOAKÂ ranunculus and anemone tubers in tepid water overnight or for at least three or four hours before planting three inches deep and six inches apart in well-draining soil in full sunlight.

â« PLANTÂ spring bulbs beginning this month. Tulips and crocus need to be refrigerated for at least four weeks before being dug. Make sure to remove all fruit or vegetables from the fridge to discourage rotting from ethylene gases. Keep all bulbs away from sunlight and in a dark place before planting. For blooms that last throughout the spring season, stagger planting days for daffodils, Dutch iris, muscari, scilla, and galanthus.

â« CHECKÂ out an attractive alternative to downspouts with the solid copper Rain Chains. With several styles and sizes to suit every home, you now have the ability to direct water to your garden and at the same time enhance the beauty of your exteriors. VisitÂ www.rainchainsdirect.comÂ or call855-843-7246Â for more information.

â« FORCEÂ hardy flower bulbs of amaryllis, freesias, and paperwhites for Christmas blooming by potting them in sterile, neutral PH potting soil in an area where they will enjoy a temperature of 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit with good air circulation and low humidity. Give them a big drink of warm water, tamp down the soil, do not water again until green sprouts. Amaryllis sprout spectacular shows within eight weeks.

â« DEERÂ proof your bulb garden with a collection of allium, fritillaria, English Bluebell, brodiaea, narcissus, crocus, anemone, hyacinth, and peony for a floral display that lasts from April through July.

â« CUTÂ stalks of peonies to ground level and discard the cuttings as they are not good for compost. If your peonies didnât bloom, they may be planted too deep. Dig them up this month, rework the soil, and replant Â½ inch higher than soil level.

â« WASHÂ patio furniture, pads, pillows, and accessories before covering or storing to avoid mildew, mice migrations, rust, and rot.

â« GROUPÂ gaillardia and chrysanthemums along with grasses in a barrel for fabulous fall color. The National Garden Bureau has named Gaillardia âtheâ perennial to grow for 2015.

â« LOWERÂ mower height as lawn growth slows. Reduce irrigation time, but continue to water until the rains arrive as grass needs the strength to be healthy for winter. If you didnât fertilize in October, fertilizer now with an organic fall blend.

â« GUARDÂ against an unexpected frost by watering deeply and covering susceptible shrubs with burlap, fabric, or blankets the afternoon before the cold arrives.

â« COLLECTÂ rainwater in barrels or large garbage cans to use on your plants. (Fingers crossed that it does rain soon)

â« REDUCEÂ your garden work out by seeking out plants that are identified as âcompactâ. Look for tags that say dwarf, patio, knee-high, tiny, or baby in the variety name. If a plant tag says âperfect for cut flowersâ it will grow to be too large for a small space.

â« ADDÂ artistic value to your landscape with hanging baskets, mirrors, lighting, antique wrought iron furniture, statuary, and water features.

â« CELEBRATEÂ a month of gratitude with an arrangement of roses and anemones in warm sunset shades.

â« DECORATEÂ for Thanksgiving with pumpkins around your outdoor seating areas.

Happy gardening and happy growing!

Cynthia Brian

Read article at Lamorinda WeeklyÂ

Cynthia Brian

StarstyleÂ® Productions, llc

The Goddess Gardener

StarstyleÂ® Productions, llc

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

925-377-STAR

I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant.

Halloween Spooktacular, Ghouls, Gourds, Garlic, Henna Hundal

Posted by

Editor on October 31, 2014

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Halloween Spooktacular, Ghouls, Gourds, Garlic, Henna Hundal

Legend has it that garlic repels vampires and wards off the evil eye. Popularized by Bram Stokerâs Dracula, garlic not only is effective against the blood-sucking princes of the night, but also fends off the undead, including witches, warlocks, and werewolves. Â Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian tells us how to plant, store, and use this miracle vampire repellent.

For some spooktacular holiday inspiration, StarstyleÂ®-Be the Star You Are!â¢ will shoot you into the spirit of Halloween faster than you can say BOO! Â Listen at Voice America andÂ Listen at StarStyle Radio with photos and descriptions.Â

Catch up with all broadcasts on ITunes.Â Buy books by Cynthia Brian.

Congrats to everyone who volunteers and supports Be the Star You Are!Â®. BTSYA has been named a 2014Â TOP NON PROFITÂ for the 6th straight year and is one of the first to be awarded this honor by Guidestar andÂ Great Non Profits.

Express Yourself!â¢ Teen Radio is produced by Cynthia Brian of StarstyleÂ® Productions, llc as an outreach program of Be the Star You Are!Â® charity. For information on being a guest emailÂ caiekelley@gmail.com. To make aÂ tax-deductible donationÂ to keep this positive youth programming broadcasting weekly to international audiences.Â Thanks for supporting teens!

Be the Star You Are!Â® charity. It’s the Season of Giving Make a donation today.Â Buy books and shirts.

Trick or Treat for Literacy:

Give to Trick or Treat for Literacy. Instead of collecting candy, collect donations to give a child a book treat.

Brought to the airwaves under the auspices of the literacy and positive media charity, Be the Star You Are!Â®,Â each program will pump your energy to help you live, love, laugh, learn, and lead.

Previous guests and fans of the program on World Talk Radio will always be able to access the archives.Â Tune in the Power Hour everyÂ Wednesday from 4-5pm PT/70-8pmETÂ and join our empowerment party!

StarStyleÂ® Be the Star You Are!Â® Radio

Be the Star You Are!Â® charity. Every Season is for GivingÂ Make a donation today.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for June

Posted by

Editor on June 4, 2014

Categories

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for June

âNature. Cheaper than therapy.âÂ ~ Source unknown

Why is it when we surrender our âbusynessâ to get outside in nature, we feel better?Â Â Researchers have found that going into the garden, hiking, biking, or strolling in the countryside, bird watching, or animal petting triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin that activate the pleasure center in our brain. When you spend time in the outdoors you experience a deep feeling of wellbeing and relaxation. Close contact with nature improves health while increasing self-esteem and confidence. Mother Nature is the ultimate teacher providing a foundation for life-long learning that nourishes the senses. Indulging in âgreen activitiesâ reconnects us to ourselves,Â Â one another, our kids, and the natural world. Nature soothes, restores, and heals.Â Â Our stressed, depressed, or anxiety-ridden moods are elevated to refreshed, peaceful, and balanced. The next time you are feeling blue, go green and talk to a plant.Â Â We can all use a little Vitamin N (as in Nature)!

â« EMPTYÂ all standing water from containers to stop mosquitoes from invading in this dry year. If the bloodsuckers are biting, check out the Thermacell products, including a portable protector. A copy of the natural insecticide found in chrysanthemums is vaporized to create a 15×15 ft zone of protection.Â www.thermacell.comÂ
â« BOOSTÂ your immune system and stave off diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and cancers by growing and eating leafy greens, broccoli, apples, beans, onions, garlic, leeks, and tomatoes.
â« PULLÂ ivy from trees as ivy strangles and kills. Ivy also is a haven for rats and mice.
â« ELEVATEÂ your palate by including home grown fennel, also known as sweet anise, into your recipes. The aromatic feathery fronds are pretty in the garden while the thick bulbs are delicious! If flower stalks begin to form, pinch them off to direct the plantâs energy to the bulb.
â« SAVEÂ our pollinators by creating habitats that support and nourish them.Â Â
â« MAKEÂ noise before putting your hand into a hidden space such as your irrigation controls as snakes are slithering about in this dry, warm weather, including rattlers.
â« DONâTÂ overlook the common petunia for lasting beauty and deer resistant lantana. Both are available in luscious pink, purple, orange, red, and white. Butterflies will swarm to the bright yellow and gold lantana.
â« PRUNEÂ butterfly bush after the blossoms fade to encourage another round of blooms for fall.
â« STIRÂ fried, sautÃ©ed, or just toss in a fresh salad, the green tops of radishes, carrots, turnips, and beets are pleasantly earthy, peppery, and most of all nutritious!
â« PINCHÂ spent petunia petals to enable repeat blooming through fall.
â« REFILLÂ birdfeeders weekly to ensure that the flyers spend the summer with you.
â« CREATEÂ unique bouquets and arrangements for your graduation and Fatherâs Day festivities with natural elements from your personal flowerbeds.
â« SWINGÂ on a hammock under a tree for a soothing dose of relaxing nature therapy.
â« GIVEÂ dad a green gift on Fatherâs Day that heâll enjoy for years to come. Perhaps a blueberry bush for healthy antioxidant eating or a beautiful bougainvillea to enliven the backyard fence.Â Â
â« PRINTÂ personalized coupons to help with the weeding, watering, and digging as another great gift idea for all gardening dads.Â Â Mother Nature will thank you.
â« PLANTÂ cilantro, lettuces, and basil in containers for easy reach for your culinary treats.
â« CHECKÂ your irrigation timers to make sure they are working properly and set to early morning or evening, but not during the day. Twice a week watering is sufficient for most gardens and will help you conserve our H20.
â« PROTECTÂ your plants from hungry hunters as food gets scarce during the dry summer months by installing wire cages, netting, or repellents. No plant is 100% deer or rabbit proof.
â« TREATÂ diseases with organic remedies. Neem oil and plant based cures are recommended.
â« CELEBRATEÂ summer by encouraging children to sow easy-to-grow sunflowers. Press the seeds into the soil, add water, and watch the wizardry that can surpass 16 feet!
â« PULLÂ onions for salads and grilling.
â« TOLERATEÂ minor aphid infestation to allow lady beetles (aka ladybugs) and âaphid lionsâ lacewing larvae to do their beneficial pest control. The good bugs only stick around when they have an infested buffet to feed on.
â« USEÂ the lily pad shaped petals of nasturtiums as serving dishes for appetizers as they are deliciously edible.
â« THINKÂ ahead to Halloween and Thanksgiving now by sowing your pumpkin seeds directly into the enriched, fertilized ground before mid June.
â« DRIVEÂ carefully through neighborhoods as school is out for the summer and kids are enjoying the outdoors.

Congratulations to our Lamorinda graduates of all ages and the beautiful June brides and grooms. Wishing the men a joyful Daddyâs Day too! Enjoy a warm, fun filled June!

Happy Gardening and Happy Growing and read more at The Lamorinda Weekly.Â

Cynthia Brian is the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!Â® charity, producer/host of the radio program StarStyleÂ® Be the Star You Are!Â®, producer of Express Yourself!â¢, and editor/teen coach of Teen Scene.

Cynthia Brian

The Goddess Gardener

StarStyleÂ® Productions, LLC

Cynthia@goddessgardener.com

http://www.goddessgardener.comÂ Cynthia is available as a speaker and consultant.Â

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