Date: Fri 10-May-1996

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Gardener-rock-garden-Bleach

Full Text:

(`Burb Gardening column on rock garden planning, 5/10/96)

Suburban Gardener-

A Rock Garden & Herbs

By Anthony C. Bleach

Author's Note: The following is based on a paper written by Jean Zajac, a

student in our Landscaping Small Properties course. I want to share it with

you this week, as I thought it has a conciseness and clarity rare in such

descriptions...

The area I chose to design a rock garden for is my backyard, alongside an

existing patio. The plan is to combine a stone retaining wall, which will also

serve as a planted wall, with a small rock garden. The area is approximately

16 by 16 feet with a north-facing slope. The planted wall will contain mostly

herbs, as it is close to the house.

After building the stone wall, the site will need to be excavated to a depth

of 12 to 18 inches. Since this area for the most part is a consistent slope,

some shape will be given to the subsoil to give it a more rugged look with

some shallow spots and some bumpy areas.

Next, a mixture of fifty percent sand and rough gravel and fifty percent loam

and humus is laid down to within three inches of ground level. The top three

inches of pea gravel and sand will provide good drainage and will prevent

moisture collecting around the crowns of the plants. At the same time, it will

conserve moisture during dry spells. As the plants' roots grow, they will

search through the pea gravel to find the sand and humus below.

Only three-quarters of the surface material is spread over the surface prior

to placing the rocks. The remainder will be spread over the site after the

rocks have been spaced so some spaces will be filled in if necessary.

In placing the stones, they should give the appearance of a

naturally-occurring part of a slope. Stratum line should face in the same

direction as they do in nature. The rocks and boulders chosen should be

naturally occurring in the area so as to add to the natural look of the rock

garden. In this case all the rocks should need to be brought in, if not an

existing outcrop.

When placing the rock, some are put together to create deep and narrow

crevices for plantings and others are spaced further apart for larger planting

beds and spreading plants and dwarf shrubs.

Adequate drainage, proper placement of rocks and carefully prepared soil

mixtures are the most important aspects of a successful rock garden. In

choosing plants and flowers, those with soft and gentle shades tend to blend

with weathered rock. I have also taken into account ease of care,

dependability and tried to choose plants that will provide the garden with

year-round attractiveness.

Maintenance includes watering, weeding and replacing top dressing as regular

chores. Renew the edging if necessary, but I have tried to eliminate that by

gradually combining the lawn and garden with low creepers rather than a sharp

contrast between garden and lawn.

The planted wall will consist mainly of herbs. Some of the requirements of a

planted wall are excellent drainage, air circulation, cool sheltered pockets

for roots, reflection of sunlight and retention of its warmth.

Choosing small plants with good roots and using compact varieties of things

like eight-inch Silver Mound Artemesia or four-inch perennial Roman Chamomile

when possible is helpful. Some of these would include purple sage, parsley,

oregano, thyme, scented geranium and chives.

The best way to plant a wall is at the same time as installation. Briefly, the

majority of stone used will come from the property. Water weekly and remove

weeds promptly.

Clipping back stems one-half to one-third at least once per season will

promote abundant, graceful growth. Little fertilizing is recommended because

this will cause the roots of the plants to extend further into the wall.

Jean Zajac works at Millane's Garden Center, Cromwell.

(Anthony C. Bleach coordinates the horticulture degree program at Naugatuck

Valley Community-Technical College in Waterbury.)

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 10-May-1996

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