Tag: open space

How Does Your Garden Grow? ASK A PRO!

ask a pro

Welcome to our first installment of our gardening advice blog!   Our Landscape Pros will be doing their best to demystify dirt, revive your roses and green-up your grass in our new blog series!  Of course, we cannot guarantee your results, but hopefully we can put you on the right track and turn your thumb from black to green.

AvocadosQ: Can Avocado trees be raised in containers? – Angel G.

A: Growing any type of fruit tree in a container is tough. The operative word here is “tree.” Trees generally need more root space than most containers can give them, but it can be done! I wouldn’t use a container smaller than a ½ wine barrel- a container with at least 2.5 ft width by about the same depth.

Choose a dwarf-type tree. If a fruit tree is to be kept in a container longer than a few years, it is usually only successful using a dwarf variety. ‘Wurst’ (also called ‘Little Cado’) is a dwarf variety and is sometimes recommended for container planting. This avocado is a hybrid type (a cross between Mexican and Guatemalan varieties) and it is not tolerant of temperatures below 30F.  The one advantage to a container grown plant is that you do have the option to move the container to a protected place when the temperature plummets.

You could also consider a ‘Stewart’ avocado for this climate. It is not a dwarf, but it is a smaller, compact tree and tolerates colder temperatures better than the ‘Wurst’.  I can speak from personal experience to the success of keeping a ‘Stewart’ in a container for a few years before it required root-pruning and re-potting.

Quick Facts

  • Avocados like a planting medium similar to citrus. Make sure that it is slightly acidic and drains well.
  • Don’t expose your young tree to intense sun during the summer.
  • Avocados are very sensitive to salts accumulating in the planting medium, so be sure to flush the salts from the pot periodically.
  • Do NOT over-fertilize avocados –especially when planted in containers. Watch for leaf burn, both from intense sun and over fertilization.
  • Mulch the surface of the pot to keep the shallow roots cool, while allowing air circulation.
  • Don’t expect fruit too soon after planting! It can take 5 years or more before your tree may bear fruit.

Do you have a question? Email us at recnews@redwoodcity.org , Tweet to @rwcparksandrec or comment on Facebook. 

Get Moving! It’s National Walking Day!

jen_route

We had 25 people – including some of our City Staff, members from our Senior Walking Club, Parents, Children, and one dog (Awww), show up to walk with us today to commemorate the American Heart Association‘s National Walking Day! This crew was lead by our fitness enthusiast Intern, Jennifer Schultz, on a stroll through our lovely Red Morton Park!  Thank you to those who came out to make their commitment to health with us on this somewhat brisk and foggy Bay Area morning!

You too can improve your health, wellness and reduce risk factors by walking just 30 minutes a day! Walking is probably the easiest physical activity to achieve, and can be a great way to socialize (face-to-face!). You don’t need expensive equipment, you don’t have to pay for a membership, and you can just step out the front door and get started! No excuses!

Our nation is becoming more sedentary by the minute. We are spending more time at work than ever before, as well as many of us are glued to our electronic devices (guilty!). The American Heart Association states that these increased levels of inactivity can double our risk of heart disease!

Here are some of the consequences per the American Heart Association: [1]

  • More of us are overweight.
    Adult (and childhood) obesity/overweight level continues to increase: 65% of all Adults are obese or overweight.
  • It is more difficult today to create an active lifestyle.
    People are less active due to technology and better mass transportation; Sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950; Physically active jobs now make up only about 25% of our workforce. That is 50% less than 1950.
    Our average work week is longer. Americans work 47 hours a week – 164 more hours a year than 20 years ago.
  • Extra weight costs us physically and financially.
    Obesity costs American companies $225.8B per year in health-related productivity losses.
    The average healthcare cost exceeds $3,000 per person annually. An obese employee costs employer additional $460 to $2,500 in medical costs and sick days per year.

As you age, your body is slowly wearing down, and without physical activity, this process is accelerated. Did you know that for each hour you exercise, you can gain about 2 hours of additional life expectancy? [2] Sounds like a good deal to us! Also, exercise greatly improves your quality of life, positively effecting: circulation, weight, blood pressure, mental health, self-image, strength, bone loss, heart disease, you name it! The benefits are endless. Do you need more reasons? Click here.

Lastly, we have so many ways for you to get moving in Redwood City! We have Fitness Classes, a Drop-In Fitness Center, and Open Gym times to name a few. In addition, here is a list of parks with trails in our immediate area that will help you to ignite your walking addiction!

1. Stulsaft Park

2. Red Morton Park

3. Edgewood Park

4. Huddart Park

5. Wunderlich Park

6. Redwood Shores – part of the Sand Francisco Bay Trail

Did we not list your favorite place? Where do you like to walk? Let us know in the comments!

1. American Heart Association: The Price of Inactivity
2. American Heart Association: Physical Activity Improves Your Quality of Life

Mezes and Jardin de Niños Park Renovations – Input Needed!

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What do you want to see in your neighborhood park? As we are finalizing our plans that will prepare the construction bid for the Marlin Park Playground Renovation Project (Yay!), we are ready to launch the public outreach workshops for Mezes and Jardin de Niños Park Renovations!

The first workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 26th, and the second on November 16th. We want neighbors and park users to get involved by offering suggestions for how we can improve the parks.

For both of the main workshops, we will:

  • Present in both English and Spanish
  • Provide tasty snacks and beverages
  • Have a Kids Zone (recreation staff will be on hand)
  • Start at 5:30pm for Jardin de Niños and we will meet at Tapestry Church (which is right down the street from the park at 1305 Middlefield Road)
  • Start at 7:00pm for Mezes and we will meet at Orion School (which is right down the street from the park at 815 Allerton Street)

Please join us! Parks Make Life Better!

 

Parks Make Life Better!

And now a message from our fearless leader…

DIRECTOR, CHRIS BETH! YAAAAAAY!

An extensive research study asked California citizens and public officials “Why are parks important to you?”  The research, sponsored by the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members, was used to develop the first-ever brand of the profession. “Parks Make Life Better!” is now being launched by CPRS members statewide, including the City of Redwood City. 
Overwhelmingly, survey respondents value parks and recreation as an essential community service.  Virtually every California household (98%) reported visiting a park during the past year. Forty-two percent visited a park at least several days a week; 26% visited at least once a week, and 68% visited at least monthly. Of these, 55% go with spouse or partner, 53% with kids, 48% with family, 46% with a friend. Only 5% of the users indicated they go alone.

CPRS used the research findings to develop the first-ever brand promise and brand identity for parks and recreation. The brand promise incorporates the benefits Californians reported as most important; the many ways parks and recreation make their lives and communities better. Specifically, parks and recreation make life better now and in the future by providing:

  • Access to the serenity and inspiration of nature
  • Outdoor space to play and exercise
  • Facilities for self-directed and organized recreation
  • Positive alternatives for youth which help lower crime and mischief
  • Activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts and lifelong learning

In short, parks and recreation services make Californians’ lives better.

How does parks and recreation make your life better?

play PLAY
Safe, outdoor space
For us, the biggest benefit is a safe, outdoor play space for our kids today…and as they grow.
nature NATURE
Beauty and serenity
Being in nature makes one feel alive.  We’re very fortunate to have beautiful spaces so close to home.
exercise EXERCISE
Healthy movement
Parks are made for moving at your own pace.  And, recreation programs make it easy to stay healthy.
POSITIVE SPACES
Free-time fun
Neighborhood parks are an escape, a place to run around and play.
GATHERING PLACES
Socializing and learning
Parks are like holidays, bringing us together to share good times.  They are the common ground that connects us all.
FOREVER
Valued today and always
Parks enrich our lives.  They add value to our homes and neighborhoods.  Individually and as a community, we’ll always have that need.
Come out and enjoy any one of Redwood City’s 30 parks and hundreds of recreation programs and services that are offered by our Department.  Please go to www.redwoodcity.org/parks for more information.

PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER!