Gardening combines all three elements of a good fitness program. Weight-bearing work like pushing a wheelbarrow or moving heavy pots and shrubs strengthens bones. Weeding and seeding will keep your joints flexible and maintain muscle tone, especially in your back. Raking, mowing, and spreading soil at a fast clip get your heart pumping.
Just in time for St. Patty's Day coming and the green weekend ahead, here is some more trivia and fun facts:

-The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in NYC (not Ireland) 247 years ago.
-Ireland's St. Patrick's Festival started only 13 years ago. It brings in around $79 million in tourist revenue.
-Nine American cities share a name with Ireland's capital, DUBLIN. The largest: DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA (pop. 41,840).
Four leaf clovers are very rare, with only one for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers.
The most leaves ever found on a clover? 18
A third of Americans who celebrate St Patrick's Day do so with special dinners, usually Corned Beef and Cabbage.
The US produced 42.1 billion pounds of beef and 2.6 billion pounds of cabbage in 2006.

As we come into the month of March, all things turn green. Spring begins to appear chasing off the cool air of winter and the greenest of holidays falls on March 17. St. Patrick's Day.
Lecture/performance by Fruteland Jackson
March 5, 2009 12:15 PM to March 5, 2009 1:15 PM