Mother's Day has been celebrated long before Judaism, Christianity, and Islam came into being in any form. Early cultures in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East recognized women as the source of life and fertility. Somewhere in history, patriarchy became prevalent, and today we are trying to recognize the importance of both men and women.
This is difficult to achieve, to say the least, especially in political and religious practices.
Since we already had Mother's Day, one way to balance it out was to have Father's Day. This was before women were given the right to vote, by the way. Father's Day has been celebrated in the United States for almost 100 years. It was founded in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd at her local YMCA in Spokane, Washington. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own. In Catholic countries in Europe, it has been celebrated as St. Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages.
Of course, this is celebrated to honor fathers, but to make it truly special, it is an opportunity to do things together and share the day.
If you want to make this day really special, plant a tree with your dad, knowing that trees are the lungs of the earth and will live for generations to come. Grasses, shrubs and even ornamental plants provide oxygen and counter the effects of global warming. Doing small landscaping projects as a family is fun and your dad will love helping out.
If you've already found a special gift for your dad, here are some additional gifts he'll love. While many lucky dads will receive something practical like a new lawnmower, tools, or even a box of cigars, consider a living gift. Flowers are a great gift for mom, but a living gift is something your dad can keep in his office or home. He'll remember you every time he sees it. Even if you don't care for a dog, cat, or other animal, you can still share the caregiving duties with your dad and deepen your bond.
Indoor plants are a necessity in today's home. With condo and apartment living and small gardens becoming more common, bringing nature inside is one of the best ways to enjoy it, especially on hot summer days. Even if you're lucky enough to have a home with a yard, indoor landscaping can bring it all together.
Plants are an inexpensive way to beautify your home in a professional way. If you are short on cash and need to buy a few extra pieces of furniture that are out of your budget, or if you want to try your hand at gardening but don't want to get dirty, indoor gardening is the perfect choice.
The secret to a successful home garden is choosing the right plants in the right place and caring for them properly. Your local nursery or garden centre can provide advice on plant selection and care.
Here are some tips to help you maintain his gardening talents.
If you are just starting a houseplant project with your loved one, start with the right container. Wooden containers are best because the wood prevents the soil from drying out too quickly. Some containers do not have drainage holes, which can create watering issues unless you are growing plants that prefer or tolerate moist environments, like papyrus. Clay pots are fine too, and can be painted to match the colors of your home. Brass and copper are great for table and mantel arrangements. However, these containers are usually small, so be careful with the water and fertilizer supply. Too much or too little can be fatal to many plants.
Soil is very important for houseplants. Houseplants have to survive on very little soil, so give them the best soil mix available. There is no perfect mix, but a long-time favorite of many homeowners is a mixture of one part peat and coarse garden soil or one part cinder and one part vermiculite or sponge rock. Your garden center may sell it already mixed.
When choosing plants for indoor use, choose varieties that can tolerate harsh growing conditions such as low light and dry air. To be a satisfying houseplant, it's not enough for it to just survive indoors; it needs to maintain an attractive appearance with minimal care. Air conditioners and gas appliances, while convenient to have, can be a strain on houseplants.
Consider plants like bromeliads, aglaonemas, aspidistra, dracaenas, monsteras, peperomias, philodendrons, nephitis, sansevierias, birdsnest ferns, boston ferns, and rapis palms. These plants seem to do well in low light or warm, dry rooms. In fact, they are sometimes called the “cast iron” types.
Plants that thrive in strong light include asparagus fern, strelitzia, croton, aralia or ginseng, philodendron, wandering dew, sansevieria, etc. Plants that can tolerate dry soil include bromeliads, jade, pandanus, peperomia, sansevieria, pothos, aloe, sedum, cacti, etc. Many palm trees are perfect for creating a bold tropical feel in your home.
Proper watering of plants is important. Too much or too little water can be disastrous. In general, most houseplants need to be watered thoroughly and then left to dry out a little, but not too much.
Plants also like to be fertilized regularly. When fertilizing your plants, it's best to follow the directions on the container. Houseplant fertilizers can come in liquid, tablet or powder form, but whatever type, use a small amount. If you overfeed, the tender roots can easily burn.
Your local gardening store also sells several books to help you and your special man with your landscaping efforts, so consider including one as a gift.
Norman Bezona is Professor Emeritus in the School of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii.
