Where the Wildflowers Grow
Posted by Sprouts Staff
A Guide to Mother Natures Most Spectacular Wildflower Displays
Every spring Mother Nature paints her fields, meadows, mountains sides and deserts with vibrantly colored wildflowers. The blooms begin to peak their heads as early as March and continue to blossom through late fall. Winter weary people across the nation emerge from their homes and flock to the countryside to view the showy and abundant displays of color and bask in spring’s long awaited sunshine. Would you like to join them? Here is a list of some of Mother Nature’s best wildflower gardens.
Crested Butte - Colorado
The Wildflower Capital Colorado, Crested Butte is located in a remote valley high in the Rocky Mountains. Home to a week long Wildflower Festival every July, and surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest which boasts 1.2 million acres of wildflowers, Crested Butte is a wildflower lovers paradise.
Kaibab National Forest - Arizona
Located on the Colorado Plateau in Northern Arizona, Kaibab National Forest (elevation 3,000 - 10,418 feet) offers a magnificent display of wildflowers beginning in early March at lower elevations and peaking at higher elevations in April and mid May. Take a drive on the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Scenic Byway to experience this unique area.
Cedar Breaks National Monument - Utah
Inaccessible from late Oct. through early May due to heavy snow, Cedar Breaks National Monument located near Cedar City in Southern Utah, host an abundant summer display of wildflowers. July visitors can escape the heat of Southern Utah’s lower elevations and experience lush alpine meadows and aspen forests. Cedar Breaks hosts an annual Wildflower Festival every July.
Hill Country Wildflower Trail - Texas
Located in central Texas, the Hill Country Wildflower Trail is made up of roads connecting the towns of Brownwood, Burnet, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Mason, and San Saba. Wildflowers, including the beautiful Bluebonnet bloom from March through May, peaking in mid April. Many of the towns along the trail host annual Wildflower Festivals. No visit to the area is complete without a trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.
Roan Mountain State Park - Tennessee
Nestled among the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Roan Mountain is home to an awe-inspiring spring display of wildflowers including blooming Rhododendron. The community celebrates by holding an annual Rhododendron Festival every June. Visit the State Park and take a hike on one of its many trails to experience the wildflowers.
Wildflower gardening is not limited to Mother Nature. You can easily grow wildflowers in your garden or a windowsill pot. Local varieties of wildflower seeds can be harvested each fall and then replanted in your garden, or seeds can be purchased and planted. A unique way to start your wildflower garden is with Sprouts eco-friendly Plantable Seed Paper. “Our seed paper notecards, bookmarks, boxes and other products are embedded with a variety of easy to grow wildflower seeds,” says Sharon Quercioli, Sprouts owner and wildflower lover. “You simply plant them in soil, water them and watch as they bloom into a bouquet of colorful wildflowers.”
Visit Sprouts website to find out more about their unique product.
Eco-conscious Trends in Fundraising Sprouting up in the Community
Posted by Sprouts Staff
A growing number of organizations are replacing their current fundraising programs with new fundraisers that offer unique environmentally responsible products. This trend toward eco-conscious fundraising is sprouting up nationwide because it is an effective way to raise much-needed funds while spreading environmental awareness.
Many Greater West Palm Beach area non-profit organizations including North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce ArtiGras Art Education Fund, Grassy Waters Preserve, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, and Hospice of Palm Beach have turned to eco-conscious companies such as Sprouts to help with eco-conscious fundraising needs. “Charities and non-profit organizations are faced with the reality of raising additional funds or cutting programs and services,” says Sprouts founder, Sharon Quercioli. “Sprouts is proud to offer an easy, fun and eco-conscious alternative to traditional fundraisers.”
Instead of using wasteful print catalogs, Sprouts and partnering organizations use a web-based approach to raising funds by selling Sprouts 100% recycled Plantable Seed Paper Greeting Cards. “The program is simple,” says Sharon. “We work with each organization to select existing Sprouts products or create a custom line of products that they wish to sell to supporters; then we create a personalized web page featuring the items. The organizations receive a portion of the proceeds from each sale placed on the website.”
In addition to Internet sales, Sprouts also assists organizations launch and publicize their fundraisers through special events and media outlets. Sprouts routinely takes part in local events including ArtiGras and TurtleFest by sells fundraiser items at exhibit booths and donating a portion of the proceeds to the organization. Sprouts also sends out press releases, utilizes online social networking and email marketing to help each fundraising campaign build momentum.
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center, located in Juno Beach Florida, carries a customized line of Sprouts Plantable Seed Paper Cards in its gift shop. “Visitors to our gift shop love the Sprouts cards featuring images of our rescued turtles, and the money we raise helps fund our operations,” says Tom Longo. “We are please to offer our supporters a unique environmentally friendly product.”
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Is your charity or organization interested in starting a Green Fundraising campaign?
Sprouts offers unique and Eco-Friendly Fundraising Programs!
Contact us at info@sproutem.com or (561) 840-8089
This article was published in 24/Seven Palm Beach North Digital Magazine.
http://epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer.aspx?docid=6e276f51533d44fd80bb0ac8832f6ef6
Wheatgrass ̶ Recipe for Healthy Living
Posted by Sprouts Staff
There are a multitude of health benefits from drinking wheatgrass juice, far too many to list them all, but here are just some of the many benefits: wheatgrass juice is a natural source of antioxidants, which helps repair damaged cells, rejuvenate aging cells, tighten loose and sagging skin. It’s also good for skin problems and improves complexion. Then again, wheatgrass juice increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. In a nutshell, wheatgrass is one of the best things you can put in your body.
The best way to reap these benefits of this juice is to drink it on a frequent basis, but drinking the same old thing can get boring after a while. To overcome this dilemma Sprouts would like to share several recipes we enjoy to jazz-up your juice.
“California Dreamin” Wheatgrass Smoothie
- 1½ cups of water
- 2 servings of wheatgrass juice, shots, rounds or cubes
- 1 teaspoon of raw agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup
- 1 cup of baby spinach
- ½ cup of deveined kale
- 1 orange
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup of frozen peaches
Add all ingredients to blender and blend on high for 30 seconds or more. If desired, garnish with edible flowers for a little pizzazz!
Green Juice
- 3 stalks celery
- 2 medium cucumbers
- 5 fresh spinach leaves
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- 3-inch round wheatgrass
- water as needed
- Cut up celery and cucumber into chunks small enough to fit through your juicer
- Juice and dilute with water as necessary for texture and/or taste.
One of the best things about nature’s wonder grass is that it’s one of the easiest plants to grow yourself! In fact, Sprouts offers an easy to grow wheatgrass blooming box garden kit for just $4.95!
To find out more about ordering the wheatgrass blooming box garden kit, visit www.sproutem.com; email info@sproutem.com or call (561) 840-8089.
4 Green Gift Ideas that will Tickle Your Sweetheart Pink!
Posted by Sprouts Staff
As Valentine’s Day draws near, one question becomes quite clear, “What do I give to my beloved dear. Candy, jewelry, a new sweater or two - I need something special…something different…something new!”
Here are four gifts that are perfect for you!
1. Valentine’s Day Cards
These are no ordinary cards…when planted they grow flowers!
Sprouts unique Valentine’s Day Cards are printed on eco friendly plantable seed paper. Handmade from 100% recycled paper and embedded with flower seeds, when Sprouts cards are planted they grow flowers!
Visit our website or call 561-840-8089 to order!
2. Valentine Wish Sprouters
Share a message of love, friendship, hope, or joy with Valentine Wish Sprouters. Plantable Wish Sprouters are enjoyed by all.
Each Package contains 5 Wish Sprouters.
Visit our website or call 561-840-8089 to order!
3. Blooming Box Garden Kit
A growing gift for the gardener you love!
Sprouts Blooming Box Garden Kit contains one of our Heart Boxes as well as a coir pot, pieces of our paper to plant and soil pellets. All you add is water!
Visit our website or call 561-840-8089 to order!
4. Blooming Boxes
Deliver your loving sentiment with style! Sprouts elegant & eco- friendly boxes are made from plantable seed paper. They are perfectly sized to hold candy, jewelry, and small favors or gifts. Favor Boxes are sized to hold gift cards or business cards.
When the box is planted in soil, it naturally biodegrades and beautiful flowers grow - providing your loved one with a growing reminder of you!
Visit our website or call 561-840-8089 to order!
What’s so Great about Wheatgrass?
Posted by Sprouts Staff
What’s so great about wheatgrass? Our own Dawn Dodenhoff explores the benefits of wheatgrass in the January edition of 24Seven Digital Magazine - Palm Beach North. In the article she list 15 fascinating facts about wheatgrass and its health benefits.
For example, one of the benefits drinking wheatgrass juice provides is its natural detoxification agent that is superior to carrot juice as well as other fruits. To find out more please read Dawn’s article What’s so Great about Wheatgrass? on pages 24 and 25 in the Going Green section of 24Seven Digital Magazine.
Sprouts has known about the benefits of wheatgrass juice for years and even offers a way to grow your own wheatgrass. Our special Blooming Box Garden Kits containing wheatgrass seeds! The kits have one of our Heart Boxes or Favor Boxes as well as a coir pot, wheatgrass seed to plant and soil pellets. All you add is water!
If you would like to order your own Wheatgrass Garden Kit for $4.95 please email info@sproutem.com
Click on the link to go to 24Seven:
http://epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer.aspx?docid=1b6ef0bdb09543869c0c2ee4a4386610
The Green Resolution!
Posted by Sprouts Staff
This year many of our friends, family, and colleagues New Year’s resolutions sound something like this: I’m going to exercise more, eat healthier, make more time to volunteer, and be more organized. It’s the standard promises made to make the coming year better for ourselves. Yet, there is one resolution missing in these goals we strive for: the green resolution, the resolution to better our environment and planet.
Some people think going green is going to terribly disrupt what they are used to or that it’s too hard to go green and recycling is enough. For these people, baby steps are the best way to start the green change over. If you are this person, then this coming New Year resolve to change one thing in your life to make your existence a little greener. Maybe you change to more energy efficient light bulbs or use more environmentally friendly household cleaners. Maybe you could carpool to work or replace a broken appliance with ones that are more energy efficient. If everyone does something small in the effort to go green the impact on the planet will be huge.
For those of you who already have incorporated green living in your daily routine, see if you can assist the people in your life with their transition into a greener lifestyle. Sometimes our friends just need that extra push or someone to talk to about greening their lives. See if you can inspire others to become as passionate about the environment and planet as you are.
Let’s make a resolution to not just better ourselves, but better our environment, better our planet and make the green resolution!
Below are more suggestions on how to live a greener life and commit to the green resolution.
1. Recycle: Most cities offer recycling bins and it is one of the easiest ways to live greener.
2. Send plantable greeting cards versus ones that can be thrown away.
3. Buy locally grown produce at farmers markets in your community.
4. Start a garden that will attract honey bees and other pollinators.
5. Create a compost pile to fertilize your yard and garden.
6. Donate unused or reusable goods to local thrift stores or collection agencies.
7. Replace old or broken appliances with energy efficient ones.
8. Invest in low flow toilets and showerheads.
9. Walk or ride a bike to nearby places instead of driving.
10. Keep reusable canvas bags in your car for when you go shopping.
11. Use less water by only doing full loads of laundry, taking shorter showers, and turning off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth
12. Replace you’re A/C air filter once a month.
13. Unplug electronic appliances when not in use or attached them to a power strip and turn the power strip off.
14. Switch to energy efficient lighting by using compact florescent light bulbs or LED light bulbs
15. Use recycled paper products.
16. Buy green non-toxic cleaners for your house, clothes, and car.
17. Plant a tree.
18. Adopt green friendly products as part of your normal purchasing routine.
19. Purchase a reusable water bottle versus buying one time use bottles of water.
20. Learn about local, regional, and national environmental issues and participate through volunteer efforts and raising awareness
Click here to send Sprouts Plantable Greeting Card to remind your family, friends, and colleagues to make a green resolution for the 2010 New Year.
