A Dozen Tips for Producing Low-Allergy Gardens

Ó Thomas Leo Ogren

What we plant often has a direct effect on our own health and health of those near us. A pollen-producing male tree in our own yard will easily expose us to ten times more pollen than would a similar tree growing just down block. This can be compared to second-hand smoke. It is possible to inhale some smoke from a person smoking a block or two away from you, but it is hardly same as someone smoking right next to you. It is same with plants. If your own yard is full of allergenic plants, then you will be exposed most. Elementary school landscapes are frequently highly allergenic because all too often they have been landscaped with trees and shrubs that will not produce any seeds, seedpods or fruit—which children might want to toss at each other. What is over-looked is that these tidy choices are usually male cultivars (clones) and although they are “litter-free,” they are prodigious producers of allergenic pollen. I am now involved with a pollen-free landscape planting at a new elementary school in Tulare County, California. This work is being sponsored by their local asthma coalition and it is very encouraging to see preventative measures like this being taken. Children suffer greatly from allergies and asthma, and asthma is now most common chronic childhood disease in US. Another fine example of low-pollen landscaping surrounds new American Lung Association Regional Headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. With “green” construction principles a new ‘Breathe Easy’ allergy-free office was constructed. The allergy-friendly landscape plant materials are predominantly female, and compliment clean air building. Other Breathe EasyÔ offices are also now using pollen free landscapes, as are numerous Heath Houses. Twelve tips: Remember, greater exposure to pollen, greater incidence of pollen-triggered allergy and asthma.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by Germans since gnomes were first created in their country in early 1800's. The earliest recorded sighting in England was in 1840 at Lamport Hall, seat of Sir Charles Isham. It was not until 1872 that gnomes for garden began to be manufactured in large numbers. According to German folklore gnomes were regarded as good luck charms. They were supposed to help around house and garden and in rural areas often lived in rafters of barns where they would keep a watchful eye on owner's animals as well as crops and garden produce.

Over years German gnome makers honed their skills and became master craftsmen. At its peak Griebel gnome factory in East Germany produced some 300 different gnome characters. Following collapse of communism in 1989 entrepreneurs in Czech Republic decided to enter market and to produce cheap imitations of traditional characters. Initially they were prevented from entering Germany by a law which allowed customs to confiscate those gnomes infringing companies' copyright. However, now it is a free for all on German border and Reinhard Griebel, great grandson of founder of firm, has just one workshop and gnome museum.

Whilst original gnomes were depicted as gardeners engaged in traditional rural tasks, range was increased to include anyone from fishermen to musicians, sportsmen and farmers. It was not long before living individuals were being modelled in clay or stoneware. Among those currently available are gladiator Russell Crowe, TV gardeners Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock and even a Tony Blair wall plaque.