Best Exercises for Gardeners // Lesser Celandine: A Nasty Spreading Weed

Best Exercises for Gardeners– I asked my favorite physical therapist, Mallory Aquilino, of Brewster Physical Therapy, what exercises she would recommend to prepare for gardening season. She recommended some stretches from VH1 and these are my favorite three. I try to do the stretches in the morning and evening everyday. The first two are especially good for the back. In Stretch #1, pull one knee in to your chest until a comfortable stretch is felt in the lower back and buttocks. Repeat with opposite knee. Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times on each side. In Stretch #2, support back of thigh behind knee. Starting with knee bent, attempt to straighten knee until a comfortable stretch is felt in back of thigh. Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times on each side.

In Stretch #3, Keeping your back leg straight, with heel on floor and turned slightly outward, lean into wall until a stretch is felt in your calf. Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Beware of the Charms of Lesser Celandine– Aka Ranunculus ficaria, lesser celandine is one of the nastiest Spring blooming weeds. It’s deceiving because it has pretty yellow flowers with glossy petals and fleshy leaves. It spreads through tubers and to stop it from spreading you need to dig it out completely. Last year I donned my garden gloves and cleaned out an area in our yard that was being threatened for take over by this charming invasive. I dropped the plants in a garbage bag and took it to the dump. I found some great background on where this plant typically grows and the havoc it causes. http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/most-hated-plants-lesser-celandine.html