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Make it easy on yourself

By Steve Jones

[JUNE 20, 2003]  Taking care of your piece of the planet shouldn't be all hard work. Rather, it should be enjoyable, rewarding and pleasurable. Yes, there will be some work involved, and for most us that is part of what makes it rewarding. But all work and no play soon makes Jack decide to quit bothering!

Or any other color for that matter. Low-maintenance landscaping starts in the planning stage. But there's no need to come up with all the ideas yourself. There's a lot of free information available on the Internet. You can start at my nonprofit website www.landsteward.org, where you'll find a lot of articles and all my former columns. Two helpful sites are http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/
agguides/hort/g06902.htm and http://www.gnb.ca/afa-apa/40/05/
4005803E.htm, and you can click on direct links when you go to my website and find this column under "The Plant Man."

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Let ’em grow!

Pick trees and shrubs that are low-maintenance. Obvious? Yes, but often overlooked. Send me an e-mail steve@landsteward.org if you have some specific questions about suitable plants for your landscape. Meanwhile, here are a few quick ideas for low-maintenance landscaping:

--Sargent crab apple (Malus sargenti) -- A dwarf flowering variety with pink or white blossoms, it works well on a lawn too, as it doesn't heavily shade the grass.

The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org, and for resources and additional information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org.

Make the most of those post-60 years

[JUNE 14, 2003]  One in six Americans is age 60 or older. If you're in this group, you can take steps to make these years a satisfying part of your life, said Cammy Seguin, University of Illinois Extension educator.

Seguin's first tip is to work hard to maintain a positive attitude. "Positive emotions strengthen the immune system, and optimism is a resource for healing. People with a positive attitude and determination don't let daily problems overwhelm them. They accept responsibility for their lives, remain flexible and open to change, accept uncertainty, and make changes when they can," she said.

She also touts the importance of supportive relationships for people over 60. "Some people need only a few close relationships, while others need more. Studies show that positive social relationships give meaning and order to peoples' lives, provide practical and emotional help in time of need, provide a buffer from the stress of everyday life and from major stress-producing events that come along, and help people not to be continually focused on themselves."

Seguin notes that as people get older, they often find their important relationships change due to death, divorce and illness or because friends move away. She encourages older people to actively form new relationships so they will continue to have a recreation and support network.

"It's important too to become involved in meaningful activities. Too much empty time, and you can become preoccupied with your health. You may become bored, and other people may find you boring," she said.

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She added that older Americans are an enormous resource to our communities. "Americans in this age group, especially retirees, are some of this country's most valued volunteers. They're not only making a difference in their communities, they are also helping themselves, because volunteering offers very real personal, physical and emotional benefits. It gives meaning and purpose to their lives," she said.

Perhaps the most important trait for the over-60 population to have is resiliency, and that's something that comes from being a survivor in life, she said. Seguin said resiliency means getting back up when circumstances get you down.

Instead of coping with problems by overeating, drinking alcohol excessively, blaming others or escaping in sleep, resilient people talk to people who can help them with their problems, share their feelings, make a plan of action and find ways to compensate for their losses. Resilient people often rely on their faith and their sense of humor.

And it's not too late. Experts think that effective coping skills can be learned and strengthened in later life, said Seguin. "How you choose to live will affect the way you age," she said.

[University of Illinois news release]

Animals for Adoption

Animal Control open Saturdays 

[APRIL 18, 2003]  Beginning April 28, Logan County Animal Control is experimenting for 60 days with Saturday hours. The new hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Only registration, payment of fines and animal pickup can be accomplished on Saturday. Adoptions must take place during the week.

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