UMBC Landscape and Grounds

Thank you Lorenz Inc. and Universal for moving even more snow than we could imagine.

Sunset - day 5

Thank you ABM for assisting in snow removal. Great job.

After all the crews working all night to clear the roads , of 29" + deep snow from Maryland biggest two day storm , admiring the view.

Allergy Friendly

To help you make an Allergy Friendly choice, plants with our new labels on have been rated with the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS™).

The scale runs from 1 - 10. The plants with ratings 1 through to 5 are Allergy friendly. Plants with ratings increasing from 6 through to 10 have a higher potential to trigger allergies.

This rating is not a substitute for medical advice and no liability can be assumed for its use.

OPALS™ stands for Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, and the scale, which is a registered trade mark, has been in effect since 1996, and has been published and in regular use since 1999. OPALS™ is numerical, ranging from 1 (least allergenic) to 10 (most allergenic). Ratings are based on a possible 130+ different criteria; examples of various criteria are length of bloom period, amount of pollen produced if any, s*x of plant is dioecious, size of individual pollen grains, specific gravity of pollen grains, shape of grains, position on the plant of pollen flowers, average rankings (1-4) in actual skin scratch tests, patch tests, and sniff tests, propensity to trigger itch or rash, cross-reactivity to food allergies, etc. OPALS™ is a science-based tool designed for improved, smarter allergy and asthma-friendly plant selection. OPALS™ has been used by many individuals worldwide, by allergy and asthma coalitions, by cities, schools, parks, hospitals, state departments of public health, by lung associations and by the USDA.

To find out more about Allergy Friendly Gardening visit http://www.safegardening.org/

Queux Plant Centre has a selection of plants which now have these new Allergy Friendly label

Welcome - Safe Gardening

Merry Christmas and Happy New year , from the crew. Hope your holiday break is a restful time with family.

Camellia time! Can you guess where the camellias are on campus? There are two locations.

Moss-growing concrete absorbs CO2, insulates and is also a vertical garden These vertical gardens boast aesthetic appeal, but the biological concrete’s beauty also lies in its clever design.

Pesticide Ban Has Lawn Care Contractors on Edge | Green Industry Pros Q&A with Eric Wenger of Complete Lawn Care, Inc. on the recent pesticide ban in Maryland.

Let the deer graze too!

Sustainable Control of White Clover - Video | Green Industry Pros Cute rabbit chows down on White Clover in homeowner's back yard.

Scientists Have Finally Discovered That Living Near Trees Is Good For Your Health!http://www.offgridquest.com/green/scientists-have-finally-discovered-that-

Scientists Have Finally Discovered That Living Near Trees Is Good For Your Health! In a new paper published Thursday, a team of researchers present a compelling case for why urban neighborhoods filled with trees are better for your physical health. The research appeared in the open access journal Scientific Reports.The large study builds on a body of prior research showing the cog…