Goose Music

Posted on March 12, 2021December 31, 2021 by Betty Hanselman

“I hope to leave [my children] good health, an education, and possibly even a competence. But what are they going to do with these things if there be no more deer in the hills . . . no more chattering of teal as darkness covers the marshes; no more whistling of swift wings when the morning star pales in the east? And when the dawn-wind stirs through the ancient cottonwoods, and the gray light steals down from the hills over the old river sliding softly past its wide brown sandbars–what if there be no more goose music?”
~ Aldo Leopold (American author, naturalist, conservationist; 1887-1948)

Good news! Geese still glide over Ginkgo in Central Pennsylvania garden; March, 2021.

GARDEN VIEWS: Winter Sunshine

Posted on March 2, 2021December 31, 2021 by Betty Hanselman

On the cold, sometimes dreary days when winter and spring seem to be playing an interminable game of hide and seek, how delightful to have the varied shades, textures, and shapes of evergreens to brighten the landscape! Here are a few of my favorites: glossy-leafed ‘Edith Bogue’ Magnolia, brightly- berried ‘Satyr Hill’ Holly, lush-needled Nordmann Fir, and the rare Sciadopitys verticillata (Umbrella Pine). Do you have a favorite evergreen that brightens your winter days? Let me know in the comments!

Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& evergreen enthusiast!)

The Secret to a Longer Life? Live with Plants!

Posted on March 1, 2021December 31, 2021 by Betty Hanselman

A 2016 study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, confirms what we have been saying all along: surrounding yourself (and your home) with plants could help you live longer.

Researchers from Harvard and Brigham Women’s Hospital analyzed data from 108,630 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study from 2000 to 2008. Adjusting their models for mortality risk factors (age and socio-economic levels, for example), they found that women living in areas with the most greenery had 12% lower mortality rates, a 34% lower risk of respiratory-related death, and a 13% lower risk of cancer-related death than women surrounded by less vegetation.

‘We were surprised to observe such strong associations between increased exposure to greenness and lower mortality rates,” stated Harvard research associate, Peter James.

The researchers concluded, “increasing vegetation may provide opportunities for physical activity, reduce harmful exposures, increase social engagement, improve mental health, mitigate the effects of climate change, and lower mortality rates.” Their recommendation to plant more trees and shrubs is our joy!! For a greener, healthier future, CALL US TODAY (717-653-1273)!

References:
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/15-10363/
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a38256/women-live-longer-near-vegetation/

Gracious plantings of Japanese Maples, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Boxwoods and other ground covers surround these Lancaster County homes with lush greenery that is refreshing, restful, and healthy!

GARDEN VIEWS: all Season Joy!

Posted on February 25, 2021May 15, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

When designing your garden, be sure to incorporate elements that evoke beauty and interest in all seasons! For example, while the “splash-ter” of running water is refreshing and delightful on warm days, the same Japanese garden water feature (here, a Japanese-inspired tsukubai) demands attention when encased in ice!

Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& all-season beauty enthusiast)

Garden Views

Posted on February 22, 2021December 31, 2021 by Betty Hanselman

Swans in winter . . . captured in timeless elegance and beauty by one of our crew members at a farm pond we renovated in Manheim, PA.

(Photos by Peter Dymond, Hanselman Landscape Garden Care Supervisor)

Renovations to this Central Pennsylvania farm pond included reshaping steep banks into gently sloping lawns for ease of mowing, surrounding the pond edge on one side with jumping rocks for water play, and adding a peninsula for sunny-day picnics.

Curators of Living Art

Posted on February 20, 2021December 31, 2021 by Betty Hanselman

As garden artists and craftsmen, we take great joy in partnering with our clients to dream, design and then display their garden masterpieces. We are especially grateful when our clients also choose to retain us as curators, entrusting us with the nurture and oversight of their ‘living artwork’.

As curators of living art, our team members travel far and wide to expertly shape specimen trees, protect plants from diseases and pest infestations, and, in some cases, restore health and beauty to older gardens, where plants have been untended for a number of years. Regardless of location, our clients’ garden masterpieces grow in beauty, health and value when tended and monitored on a regular basis.

Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& assistant curator of our ‘garden art’)

Team member, Sean Kramer, cares for the live portion of an art installation at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA. Hanselman Landscape installed these Japanese Black Pines in 2010 as part of Chinese sculptor Cai Guo-Qiang’s work “Ring Stone”.