Page 32 February 2017 Serving the Arcadia area since 1958          Find us on Facebook! Member Since 1959      •  •     •    •    •         4855 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 | www.ingleside.com HOSPITAL OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK BRIAN A. SERBIN, DVM • RACHEL BART, DVM KATIE CHILES, DVM • KATHERINE HEWITT, DVM • TALI TONCRAY, DVM HOSPITAL 602-840-3446 | GROOMING 602-952-1754 Grooming OPEN Tues - Sat 4808 E CALLE TUBERIA – $1,150,000 Charming quintessential Arcadia Ranch home with Camelback Mountain views and amazing outdoor living spaces. Recently remodeled featuring an optimal open floor plan, perfect for entertaining. For all your real estate needs, call Chris Illgen anytime at 602.430.6769. CHRIS ILLGEN-Realtor 19+ Years in Real Estate Cell 602.430.6769 chrisillgen@yahoo.com | chrisillgen.com BRinging thE BEst BuYERs to thE BEst homEs and REal EstatE agEnts in aRcadia sold By Chloe McAllaster Situated in the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Japanese Friendship Garden is an urban oasis that embodies a rich history of friendship between the cities of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan. Since its proposal in 1987 by then-Himeji mayor Matsuji Totani, the garden has promoted appreciation for the Japanese culture and served as a tranquil refuge from the stresses of everyday life. The three parts of the garden’s Japanese name, Ro Ho En, are reflective of the relationship that exists between Phoenix and Himeji. “Ro” means Heron, which is a significant symbol for Himeji. “Ho” is the Japanese word for the Phoenix. Finally, “En” means public garden. The Himeji Gardening and Construction Contractors Association was created to ensure authenticity in the designing and building of Ro Ho En. The association visits periodically to monitor soil conditions, select rocks and planting sites and to supervise construction. From the base of the Kasuga Lantern, all four of the garden’s landscapes can be viewed: the low-lying grasslands, the woodlands of oak and pine, the forested mountains and the cobble stone beach. The garden’s representation of the Shachi, a mythical fish with the face of a tiger or dragon and the body of a fish, is identical to those that can be found at the top of the Himeji Castle. The Shachi is the adopted symbol of the Friendship Garden. The tea garden and house were completed in 1996 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sister City relationship. The decorative features of the stroll garden, courtyard garden, stone garden and tea garden are gifts from the people of Himeji. Authentic tea ceremonies presented by the Tanko Kai tea group are held on the third Saturday of each month from October through June. In addition to tours and tea ceremonies, the garden also offers a number of cultural events and wellness programs that are open to the public, including seasonal festivals, art exhibits, cultural workshops, Tai Chi and meditation. Free admission is available on the first Friday of each month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. According to curator Della Killeen, one of the visitors, Hisao Tendo, is the architect designing new buildings for the garden. Tendo designed the latest structure – the Seichin bathroom – in 2009. Master Japanese carpenter Shuzou Funabiki hand carved the building’s wooden beams. The bathroom’s exterior showcases traditional Japanese architecture, while the interior features Tendo’s contemporary design. Last April, sister garden Ko Ko En in Himeji hosted a tree planting ceremony for the 40th anniversary of Ro Ho En. During the November visit, a flowering pear tree was planted in Phoenix’s garden to parallel the ceremony in Himeji. A delegation from Phoenix will visit Himeji and Tokyo in April to further honor the anniversary. Ro Ho En garden celebrates 40 years of friendship The garden is meant to be a reflection of the relationship between Phoenix and Himeji. The Shachi (right) is the garden’s official symbol.

Page 33 February 2017 a lot of really creative and admirable people. Many people come to us genuinely curious as to what it is exactly that goes on at Flower Street.” To satisfy that curiosity, Flower Street opens its urban farm to the public for garden tours and seminars. Billingsley noted that it can be helpful for people to see how simple and efficient gardening can be, even with little space, and it inspires them to start their own backyard gardens. Gardening can play an important role in the local community, connecting neighbors through food, a universal human necessity. With rising concerns over sustaining the human species in the long run, Billingsley said it is valuable to consider the methods of food growth and production, both for today’s families and future generations. “I’m not saying it’s the singular answer to the problems at hand,” said Billingsley. “But if we were to establish a network from within our community to grow food organically, then we could provide for ourselves in the Arcadia neighborhood.” With urban gardens attracting more attention, Billingsley envisions a future where families grow their own fruit, vegetables and more, and trades their extras. “It could literally bring the members of our community into communion with one another,” he said. instrumental in Flower Street’s success. “The response from our community has been a big part of what has sustained us from the very beginning,” Billingsley said. “We get the chance to meet and work beside By Rachael Bouley During the past few years, gardening and organic sources of food have become more popular. However, many families and businesses struggle with gardening because they don’t have enough space for a full, in-ground garden. Pets and pests can also easily dig up a month of hard work. Arcadia-based Flower Street Urban Gardens believes it has just the solution. In 2012, owner Alex Billingsley was inspired by Flower Street, one of the main roads in the Arcadia residential neighborhood, as well as his appreciation for gardening. In an effort to make gardening more accessible for everyone, he and his family designed a vertical garden system that can be used on walls, fences and railings. This way, aspiring gardeners can produce wholesome, organic and nutrient-dense food, even if they do not have the space for a full, in-ground garden. Flower Street Urban Gardens roots are planted firmly in the desert. With its arid environment, Phoenix is not typically considered a leader in cutting-edge developments in gardening and planting, but Flower Street is changing this. Its vertical gardens can be placed in backyards, schools, senior centers, restaurants, apartments and hotels. During the hot summer months, the innovative irrigation system still ensures growth of delicious, healthy food. “I don’t think anyone has ever planted a seed and watched it grow without it having an enormous impact on their consciousness,” said Billingsley. The Arcadia community has been Local garden business offers Arcadians the chance to grow Urban gardening allows families to grow their own fruits and vegetables without worrying about bending down, taking up too much space or pests. GARDENING TIPS The birds and green of springtime can still seem far off in February. But if you’ve got a garden in your yard, you may need to get the ball rolling sooner than you think. Putting things in order before March and April hit could make all the difference in the world for your garden. We asked Kevin Erdmann, Master Gardener at Berridge Nursery, for some tips on getting an early start on flowers and plants in our yards. ❁ Are there any gardening tasks that Arcadia residents could do now to prepare for the spring? Oh yes. If anything was frost damaged during the winter, you’re going to want to start pruning that off. Also, make sure to check the irrigation systems and look and see if they are working the way they are supposed to. In the winter, it’s cool and frequently raining, so people don’t worry about it. But then spring hits and the well runs dry. Turn on the system while on manual and check all the emitters. Make sure they’re dripping and not clogged up. You’ll also want to double check the timers and make sure they’re set. ❁ What about herbs and flowers? There are a lot of these. Basil, chives, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme. It’s a good time to plant zinnia seeds, which are big spectacular flowers. Angelonia and blanket flowers, those will bloom throughout the summer. Also, marigolds. ❁ What are some good edible plants that can start growing during this time of the year? Bush beans, corn, cucumbers and cantaloupe are all good to start planting. Fruiting vegetables like eggplant and tomatoes, also summer squash and zucchini. Now is also a good time for sunflower seeds. What those have in common is they need a little extra time to mature before they face the heat. You never really know when that heat wave will start, it depends on the year. I remember the first year I started to garden with tomatoes, it hit 115 on May 14th! ❁ What are some tips for helping your gardening season start well in February? Put a good thick mulch on the soil as heat begins. Veggies and flowers are hungry plants, so make sure to keep feeding them with fertilizer every month. Again, check on that watering system. They’re supposed to be labor saving, but if you don’t watch them they can fall down on the job! Berridge Nursery is located at 4647 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-952-8080.