It’s not something that local gardeners are going to be trying, but the truth is – LED light bulbs are grown.
Speaking to the Harriston Horticultural Society, Kelly Lantz, from Botanical Designs & Installations Inc. of Neustadt, told those in attendance at the Harriston Horticultural Society annual general meeting that LED light bulbs are actually grown from crystals in a laboratory, and then harvested by cutting them off when they get tall enough. It takes about five years for growth large enough to yield a crop. Only the inside of the crystal is used which gives the pure white light for LED bulbs.
That information came as an aside to Lantz’s presentation on lighting for the landscape and how it can extend the garden mood by several hours each day. He emphasized where to put lighting – on focal points, steps, walls, and ponds, or to light up danger spots like uneven cracks in sidewalks. Don’t spotlight windows, front door, or line the driveway with fixtures, he suggested, as they will be damaged during snow removal. Don’t over light because it then becomes a hot spot rather than soothing and tranquil. Be careful when using beams – a narrow ray focusing up through a large spreading oak tree completely loses effect; a full spread beam would be required to illuminate the grace of the tree.
Lantz admitted a full scale design for a property with LED lights and various types of fixtures could be expensive, the upside is it’s not a hydro eater.
Planning for the annual Garden Festival (June 6) is well underway and new vendors have been attracted.
A silent auction will be held at the April 15 meeting where Cedarwood Honey will present Pesticide and Insecticide Problems with Bees.”
The District 7 AGM will be held at the Harriston Community Centre on April 18.
A Design Workshop will be held at the United Church on Sat. April 25. This will be a Parallel Design demonstrated by Celia Roberts who received a silver medal at the world competition in Ireland. Roberts will be supplying all plant material, oasis, and containers for each person. For more information call (519) 338-3243.
The general public is invited to any of the above events.
Submitted by Willa Wick
