In the tapestry of community life, there exists a silent hero often overlooked amidst the hustle and bustle—a hero that not only adds aesthetic charm but plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging and well-being. The hero in question? Community landscape care. Beyond its superficial allure, the meticulous maintenance of community green spaces is a multifaceted endeavor that brings about far-reaching benefits, both tangible and intangible.
The Aesthetic Facet:
Undoubtedly, the visual appeal of well-maintained community landscapes is the first aspect that captures our attention. Manicured lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and thoughtfully designed green spaces create an inviting atmosphere. These aesthetic elements contribute significantly to the overall ambiance of a neighborhood, setting the stage for positive experiences and interactions among residents.
However, the importance of community landscape care transcends mere aesthetics. Let’s delve into the profound impact it has on various aspects of community life.
Community landscape care is inherently linked to environmental health. Well-tended green spaces act as natural air purifiers, filtering pollutants and providing a breath of fresh air in urban areas. Trees, strategically planted and cared for, contribute to carbon sequestration and help combat the urban heat island effect. In essence, a thriving landscape is an investment in the environmental well-being of the entire community.
Beyond the visual allure, community landscapes serve as communal hubs, encouraging residents to come together and forge connections. Well-maintained parks, gardens, and common areas become shared spaces where neighbors can gather, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie. These green meeting spots are crucial for building social bonds and breaking down the barriers that often isolate individuals in urban environments.
Health and Well-being:
A flourishing landscape contributes to the overall health and well-being of community members. Access to green spaces has been linked to lower stress levels, improved mental health, and increased physical activity. When community landscapes are cared for and accessible, residents are more likely to engage in outdoor activities, promoting a healthier lifestyle for individuals of all ages.
Property Values and Economic Impact:
The care and attention given to community landscapes have a direct impact on property values. A well-maintained neighborhood, with attractive green spaces, is likely to attract homebuyers and enhance the overall desirability of the area. Consequently, property values tend to appreciate, benefiting homeowners and contributing to the economic vibrancy of the community.
Community landscapes provide a living classroom for residents, especially children. Maintaining diverse flora and fauna within the community offers educational opportunities for learning about local ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable practices. This hands-on experience fosters a sense of environmental stewardship and responsibility among community members, ensuring the sustainability of green practices for future generations.
In the grand tapestry of community life, the importance of community landscape care cannot be overstated. Beyond the superficial allure of well-maintained green spaces lies a host of benefits that contribute to the overall health, happiness, and harmony of the community. As we recognize the crucial role that community landscapes play, it becomes evident that their care is not just a matter of aesthetics but an investment in the well-being and sustainable future of the entire community. So, let’s embrace the profound impact of community landscaping care and work together to cultivate spaces that go beyond beauty, fostering thriving communities for generations to come.


Equator provides Landscape Designers with an accurate view of vegetation and topography in a central, user-friendly data portal.
Unprecedented, high-quality topographic maps are now available online, revolutionizing the work of Landscape Designers everywhere. For the first time, access key site insights from your desk.
Get a first look of your site’s elevation in Equator with unprecedented accuracy right from the start of your project.
Instantly view your site in vivid detail
Online data portal and innovative viewer
Fine-tune your drainage and planting designs with better elevation data, accurate to the centimeter.
Cross section, slope and elevation insights
Easy map making tools
We’ve rounded up top-notch data from trusted online sources and to make your life easier.
Hundreds of built-in LiDAR data sets
Login or Signup for Equator
Create New Site
Customize data visualization and download
© 2023 – All rights reserved. • Equator


As a result of centuries of coal mining and other heavy industry, large areas of the midlands' landscape had been left ruined. Then, around 25 years ago, a passionate group of people had a vision to create a forest - the first of its scale to be created in more than a 1000 years. The transformation was incredible, turning what was a black landscape into luscious green.
The National Forest started as an idea that, like a tiny seed, was planted and nurtured until it grew into what it is today - 200 square miles of mixed habitat forest that have breathed life into the landscape and transformed communities and lives. Farmers have become foresters and children have experienced forest schools. Some 8.9 million trees have been planted to date, and today it is recognised as one of the most ambitious and imaginative regeneration projects in the country.
The National Forest reforestation area is located in the heart of England, embracing 200 square miles of the Midlands. It extends over parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffrdshire., and aims to connect the two ancient forests of Charnwood and Needwood.
Davines is supporting the National Forest project for the reforestation and maintenance of nature in vast areas on the English Midlands that have been ruined over the years, transforming the landscape from black to green. They believe that trees are the catalyst for transformation, not only of the landscape, bur also of the economy and our communities. By continuing to cultivate the forest, making it accessible to all and creating forest culture of passionate people who can engage in it, the National Forest can provide a lasting benefit for future generations.
The National Forest is aiming to have nine million trees planted by 2021, currently short of 35,000 trees. That's where Davines comes in; They have produced vegan and sustainable soy wax candles with a black tea scent and 100% profits from the sale of the candles will go towards planting the 35,000 trees needed to help The National Forest foundation create more woodlands and regenerate the area.
The quantity of these candles is limited so pop in soon to get yours and help create a place we grow in together.
Lets help make a piece of history!
(This article was written with the help of Davines, The National Forest foundation and Lauretta and Nicky of "Life in Orpington" magazine.)


The Livable Roadways Committee is an interdisciplinary group of volunteers from the public and private sectors who represent local governments, government agencies, companies, citizen groups and professional organizations. The committee strives to create a transportation system that balances design and aesthetics with issues of roadway safety and function. It reviews transportation and roadway plans and policies, making recommendations for improvement. The committee discusses topics related to transit, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and roadway design, safety and function. Focused on streetscape beautification, site and building design, landscape, environmental protection, preservation and signage, the committee is committed to considering all modes of transportation in the recommendations it makes.
The Livable Roadways Committee originally was formed under the name Community Appearance Committee in 1989. The comprehensive plans for Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa had already included policies for establishing and protecting a system of scenic corridors throughout the county. The MPO added a goal to include landscaping in roadway projects and formed the committee to provide guidance to the public and private sectors to protect scenic roadways and improve the appearance and function of existing and future roadways.


Pool Deck Installation and Repair Services in Annapolis
Connecting with a local pool deck installer today is essential for homeowners seeking professional expertise in Annapolis. These skilled professionals are well-versed in the unique requirements of the Annapolis area and can provide valuable insights tailored to local conditions.
By collaborating with a local pool deck installer, homeowners can ensure that their project is completed efficiently and effectively. These experts can offer guidance on material selection, design options, and maintenance practices specific to the region.
Establishing a connection with a local installer fosters a sense of community and trust, knowing that the project is in capable hands. Homeowners in Annapolis can benefit greatly from the expertise and experience that a local pool deck installer brings to the table.
What is a Pool Deck?
A pool deck is a flat surface area surrounding a swimming pool, typically made of materials such as concrete, wood, or composite. It serves as a functional and aesthetic space where individuals can relax, sunbathe, or socialize with friends and family.
Pool decks are designed to withstand exposure to water, sunlight, and weather conditions, making them durable and long-lasting. They can be customized to match the style and design of the pool, enhancing the overall appearance of the outdoor area.
Proper installation and maintenance of a pool deck are essential to ensure safety and longevity. Whether for residential or commercial use, a well-constructed pool deck provides a comfortable and inviting environment for swimmers and observers alike.
Benefits of a Pool Deck
With a well-designed pool deck, individuals can enjoy a comfortable and stylish outdoor space that complements their swimming pool area. Pool decks offer numerous benefits, including:
- Enhanced Safety: Pool decks provide a slip-resistant surface, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Increased Property Value: A well-maintained pool deck can enhance the overall value of the property.
- Versatile Design Options: Pool decks come in various materials, colors, and styles, allowing for customization to suit individual preferences.
- Entertainment Space: Pool decks provide a perfect area for hosting gatherings, parties, or simply relaxing outdoors.
- Aesthetically Pleasing: A pool deck can enhance the visual appeal of the pool area, creating a cohesive and inviting outdoor space.
Pool Decking Material Options
When considering pool decking material options, homeowners in Annapolis can choose from a variety of materials such as:
Each material offers distinct features and benefits, catering to different aesthetic preferences, durability needs, and maintenance requirements. Understanding the characteristics of each option can help individuals make an informed decision when selecting the most suitable pool deck material for their specific needs.
Pavers, a popular choice for pool deck material, offer a versatile and durable option for enhancing the outdoor space. These interlocking stones come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing for endless design possibilities. Pavers are known for their strength and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic, making them an ideal choice for pool decks.
They provide a slip-resistant surface, enhancing safety around the pool area. Additionally, pavers are easy to replace if damaged, ensuring long-term durability and cost-effectiveness. With their aesthetic appeal and practical benefits, pavers create a welcoming and stylish pool deck environment.
Homeowners in Annapolis can enjoy the beauty and functionality of pavers for their pool deck installation needs.
One popular option for pool deck material is concrete, a versatile and durable choice known for its strength and longevity in outdoor environments.
Concrete pool decks offer a range of benefits, including customization options through various finishes like stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, or colored concrete. They’re relatively low maintenance and can withstand weather conditions well.
Concrete decks are also cost-effective compared to some other materials, making them a practical choice for many homeowners. While concrete may not provide the same natural look as stone, it offers a clean and modern aesthetic that can complement various pool designs.
Stone, a luxurious and timeless option for pool deck material, offers a sophisticated and elegant aesthetic that can enhance the overall look of your outdoor space. Stone pool decks are known for their durability and natural beauty, providing a versatile and low-maintenance solution for your pool area.
Common types of stone used for pool decks include travertine, limestone, and sandstone, each offering unique colors and textures to suit different preferences. These materials are heat resistant, making them comfortable to walk on even in hot weather. Additionally, stone pool decks are slip-resistant when properly sealed, ensuring safety for you and your loved ones.
With proper installation and maintenance, a stone pool deck can elevate the ambiance of your outdoor oasis for years to come.
Utilizing wood as a pool deck material offers a warm and inviting aesthetic that complements various outdoor settings while providing a natural and timeless appeal.
Wood pool decks can be crafted from various types of lumber, such as cedar, redwood, or tropical hardwoods like teak. These options boast durability and resistance to rot and decay, making them suitable for poolside environments.
It’s essential to seal and maintain wood decks regularly to prolong their lifespan and keep them looking their best. Wood decks can be customized with different finishes and stains to achieve the desired look, whether it’s a rustic, weathered appearance or a sleek, modern finish.
Tiles are a popular choice for pool decks due to their versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal. They come in various materials such as porcelain, ceramic, and stone, offering a wide range of design options to suit different preferences.
Porcelain tiles are particularly favored for pool decks due to their water-resistant properties and resistance to fading from sunlight exposure. Ceramic tiles are another excellent choice, providing a cost-effective option with easy maintenance. Natural stone tiles like travertine or slate offer a luxurious look that can elevate the overall appearance of the pool area.
When selecting tiles for a pool deck, it’s essential to choose slip-resistant options to enhance safety, especially in wet conditions.
Common Pool Deck Repairs
When addressing common pool deck repairs, it’s crucial to thoroughly assess the extent of damage before initiating any restoration work. Here are some common pool deck repairs to be aware of:
- Cracks in the concrete surface
- Loose or missing tiles
- Fading or discoloration due to sun exposure
- Uneven or sinking areas
- Damage from water or chemical exposure
Pool Deck Resurfacing Services
Pool deck resurfacing services involve rejuvenating the worn-out surface of the deck to enhance its durability and aesthetics. This process typically includes repairing cracks, filling in any holes, and applying a new layer of material to the existing deck surface.
By resurfacing the pool deck, homeowners in Annapolis can revitalize their outdoor space, giving it a fresh look and improving safety. Professional resurfacing services not only improve the appearance of the pool area but also extend the lifespan of the deck by providing an additional protective layer.
With a variety of colors and finishes available, homeowners can customize their pool deck to suit their preferences and create a welcoming environment for family and guests.
Contact Us for Expert Pool Deck Installation and Repair
For expert pool deck installation and repair services, reach out to our team of skilled professionals in Annapolis. Our team is dedicated to providing top-notch services tailored to meet your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking to install a new pool deck or repair an existing one, we’ve the expertise to get the job done efficiently and effectively. With years of experience in the industry, we understand the importance of a well-maintained pool deck for the overall aesthetics and safety of your outdoor space.
Get in Touch Today!
We want to hear from you about your Decks needs. No Decks problem in Annapolis is too big or too small for our experienced team! Call us or fill out our form today!


Located off a main route into the city and on the site of three individual dwellings, this proposal for fourteen houses aims to maximise the opportunties offered by the site. Providing a mix of two and three storey housing in four terrace ranges, the sloping site provides each dwelling with south facing views across the Avon Valley. The siting of the new buildings also retain the protected and well-established trees and are arranged to minimise the impact of vehicle parking. The private gardens of the houses are kept deliberately small as the scheme proposes simple landscaping which provides communal spaces where neighbours will meet and children can play in safety. The intention is for a small community to emerge.


For over 25 years Underground Specialties has been providing the Southwestern Ontario construction industry with high quality precast concrete structures. In 2009 we were asked to produce over 350 high quality retaining wall blocks in a very short period of time for a County of Essex project. Our blocks lock together to produce a high strength retaining wall for all applications.
Easy Blocks Are Constantly Improving: We continue to add new features and block shapes, such as our new base blocks. Any battered wall requirements are quickly met by simply adding our battered base blocks. The blocks are flat on the bottom with a sloped top to give the battered wall angle desired. The contractor need only prepare a smooth flat base, then place the base blocks and subsequent overlying regular blocks to achieve a beautiful smooth battered wall finish.


New Archaeological Museum of Sparta
Winning - First Prize
Architect: MOR Architects and
With an architectural concept based on creating an elevated space of exhibition on top of the archaeological site, the winning project generates a constant visual connection between the old and the new.
The proposed scheme comes as an addition to a listed building of industrial legacy, and to the surrounding archaeological site. According to the designers, “the existing building and its expansion compose an “island” in an “archaeological sea” which surrounds them”. The new addition will take place in the old storage space of the existing factory.
The architects announce that they have conceived the New Archaeological Museum of Sparta as “an open museum, […] aiming to express and enhance the relationship between the antiquities on-site, the listed factory building, and the new building complex”. In fact, this is achieved through a composition combining connectivity, integration, transparency, and flexibility.
The exhibition space showcases a flexible layout, with a “simultaneous perception of the main exhibition areas, the ongoing archaeological excavation and the iconic landscape.” The connection of the new building with a network of paths links the existing archaeological spaces to the contemporary city of Sparta. Finally, the archaeological park is introduced into the building through “outdoor exhibition spaces and shaded social areas underneath the elevated volume of the main exhibition”.


Safe for children, pets and the environment, our 100% recycled plastic Linking Landscape Timbers are easy to install, outlast wood, and prevent unnecessary waste from entering our landfills. Great for sand boxes, playgrounds, gardens and walkways, our eco-friendly landscape timbers are a perfect solution for municipalities, community gardens, schools and commercial spaces. Pressure treated wood is harmful to our environment and our children by leaching toxic chemicals. Be safe, be green, use recycled plastic products.
- Environmentally safe, non-toxic, arsenic-free recycled plastic.
- Similar to old railroad ties but with many advantages!
- Lightweight timbers cut easily with conventional tools.
- Interlocking edge for stacking stability.
- One-person installation.
- Covered by our Limited Lifetime Warranty.
4 ft Landscape Timber
Item Number: LLT04
Weight: 40 lbs
6 ft Landscape Timber
Item Number: LLT06
Weight: 60 lbs


Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, German thyme, garden thyme or just thyme) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Growing to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall by 40 cm (16 in) wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer.
Fresh and invigorating. Character is savoury herbaceous with a cleansing sensation. It is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage.


(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) that would require the use of environmentally friendly green or blue roofs in new construction projects being built with state funds was released last week by an Assembly panel.
“Green and blue roofs have many environmental benefits. While blue roofs help with storm water control by releasing water more gradually, green roofs not only help reduce storm water runoff, but help filter pollutants, cool roofs and provide a habitat for wildlife,” said DeAngelo. “Storm water runoff can cause polluted water to get into our waterways. Requiring the installation of these systems in new buildings whenever possible can help preserve our waterways and protect our environment.”
The bill (A-2304) would require any new building, facility, or structure that is being funded entirely or in part by the state, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority or the New Jersey Schools Development Authority and has at least 15,000 square feet in total floor area, to be, to the extent feasible, designed, constructed, and managed to include a functioning green roof or blue roof. As used in this context, feasibility would include fiscal, physical and structural concerns related to the design, installation and maintenance of a green roof or a blue roof. All plans, specifications, and bid proposal documents for any building, facility, or structure to which the bill applies would be required to identify the design standards to be used for the green roof or blue roof and the requirements for its maintenance. Any building, facility, or structure to which the bill applies may also have solar panels, provided that the solar panels do not interfere with the functions of the green roof or blue roof.
Green roofs are roofs that are partially or completely covered in vegetation with a root barrier and drainage, which is planted over a waterproofing membrane. Along with being aesthetically pleasing, green roofs provide a plethora of environmental benefits like absorbing rainfall, filtering pollutants, moderating heating and cooling, increasing roof durability, and providing wildlife habitat.
A blue roof system detains rainwater directly on a rooftop and slowly releases that water to the sewer system, allowing for some depression storage and evaporation losses. The water collected can be used for irrigation, a site infiltration system, a rain garden, or slowly discharge into the sewer system.
The requirements of the bill would not apply to any building, facility, or structure for which a request for proposal for entering into a contract to design the building, facility, or structure has been issued prior to the effective date of the bill.
The bill would take effect on the first day of the 13th month following the date of enactment of the bill into law.
The bill was released by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on June 4.


Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Please refer to official GRESB documents for assessment related guidance.
The built environment sector needs to protect biodiversity. Why? Because the sector not only depends on the raw materials provided by the natural environment, but it indirectly depends on the regulation of ecosystems, and the health and aesthetical benefits of the natural environment.
If you can protect biodiversity, you can attract buyers and tenants. You will have seen that advertisements for residential properties in particular commonly feature green spaces and nature areas as an attraction point or an amenity (think “surrounded by lush greenery” or “just a few minutes away from the sea”).
However, despite depending so heavily on nature, the sector is one of the top-three sectors threatening global biodiversity, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). As one of the top three sectors, the built environment contributes significantly to depleted food and raw material supplies, incidences of extreme weather events and the collapse of ecosystems.
WEF’s The Future of Nature and Business report provides 5 key reminders on what we, the built environment sector, need to do to protect biodiversity.
What do we need to do to protect biodiversity, and why?
By compacting, not sprawling
We need to make cities and developments compact so that we avoid encroaching on natural areas at all. The rapid expansion of cities and urban areas, made worse by poor land planning and lack of biodiversity/environmental impact assessments, often leads to the loss of biodiverse natural areas and in extreme cases, the extinction of species and collapse of an ecosystem. As a result, the built environment sector is responsible for nearly 30% of biodiversity loss globally (World Economic Forum, 2020).
Compacting our cities and developments helps to make space for biodiverse natural areas that would otherwise have to be converted into other land use types. Globally, 60% of all urban space is sparsely populated (World Economic Forum, 2020). We can obtain inspiration from cities like Hong Kong and Singapore which have efficient planning of dense urban areas and allocated spaces for nature areas despite limited land areas. Denser areas can bring workplaces and services closer to homes which in turn reduce the cost, time and pollution associated with transportation.
By considering impacts to biodiversity before development
Before locating an infrastructure or building, we should consider our impact on surrounding biodiversity from the construction to management stage. Developers can include biodivrsity considerations in impact assessments to find out whether a site provides habitats for important or threatened species. This helps to facilitate the process of sustainable site selection and the evaluation of alternative options (such as brownfield sites). A biodiversity or ecosystem impact assessment should be a standard procedure for developers to establish a baseline to identify the extent of impact and avoid and mitigate damage to areas with high biodiversity value.
We can also be more innovative in leveraging nature in our planning, design and retrofitting of buildings and infrastructure. These includes designing spaces that benefit both humans and biodiversity – for example, setting aside green spaces that provide restorative benefits to people but are also habitats for vulnerable species of animals. City Development Limited’s The Rainforest in Singapore was conceptualised as a “nature reserve” for threatened plant species, with nearly 50 native species of trees, palms, shrubs and groundcover (Lim, 2017). This particular example also reminds us to use native species and to consider the “diversity” in “biodiversity” – using native instead of exotic species and having a variety of species are key to recreating or restoring a healthy local ecosystem.
By preventing pollution and providing clean energy alternatives
We should not forget that preventing pollution and providing clean energy is just as important for biodiversity protection. As urban areas expand, utilities will also need to keep up. Sanitation, waste disposal and clean energy are essential services that need to be scaled up in many parts of the world to meet growing demands. Over 80% of global wastewater is discharged into biodiversity-rich freshwater and coastal ecosystems without proper treatment (World Economic Forum, 2020). The built environment sector can help to prevent these by setting up effective management systems for solid waste and wastewater. For example, we can reuse wastewater onsite, such as graywater and condensate water, with existing water treatment solutions. We can also provide clean energy solutions such as solar lamps to replace kerosene, candles and firewood to reduce carbon emissions and deforestation. This not only protects biodiversity but also improves the standard of living of the community.
By harnessing natural ecosystems as infrastructure
We can harness nature’s benefits by incorporating naturally functioning ecosystems into the planning and design of the built environment. This is increasingly important for climate change and disaster adaptation. A commonly used example is mangrove forests. Mangroves are important and diverse ecosystems that effectively sequester carbon and protect coastal areas from storms. They also support livelihoods for coastal communities and framing natural ecosystems such as mangroves as assets, incentivises broader interest in protecting and cultivating them. There is growing consensus that incorporating natural ecosystems can be cost-effective in the long run, especially when combined with human-engineered solutions (Seddon, 2000). Furthermore, the natural ecosystem’s ability to regenerate means lower maintenance costs compared to man-made structures. Another example is to maintain or restore healthy vegetation to prevent land erosion and/or improve water drainage. With climate change, these ecosystem services are becoming more important, especially when more intense storms due to climate change increases the risks of landslides and flash floods inland.
By planning infrastructure networks with biodiversity in mind
We should also plan for the wider infrastructure network, such as roads, railroads and pipelines, with biodiversity in mind. Such infrastructure can have as much, or even bigger, impact on biodiversity as the main infrastructure. Time and distance may be compromised, but it could be crucial in preventing habitat fragmentation and protecting vulnerable species which has more dire consequences.
Why haven’t we been doing enough for biodiversity?
We haven’t been doing enough for biodiversity, because the indirect benefits of biodiversity are often not captured by the sector’s financial accounting in a way which influences management decisions. The complexity of quantifying the risks and opportunities of biodiversity impacts means that financing projects with the aim of protecting biodiversity is currently not mainstream. As a result, we are currently not doing enough for biodiversity. However, this is about to change, with increasing expectations by investors and regulators on nature-related financial disclosures and action.
We should not wait to comply with regulations. Being responsible for nearly 30% of biodiversity loss globally, the built environment sector needs to urgently become more biodiversity-conscious in the way we develop, construct and operate. We need to prevent the catastrophic impact of ecosystem collapse – before it is too late.
Lim, Y. (2017, May 14). Property: Natural landscaping an important aspect for new condo buyers. Retrieved from News: https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/gallery/property-natural-landscaping-an-important-aspect-for-new-condo-buyers/
Seddon, N. C. (2000). Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences.
World Economic Forum, A. (2020). New Nature Economy Report II The Future Of Nature and Business. Geneva: World Economic Forum.
This article was written by Ho Ning Li (co-authors – Song Lin and Tai Wa Lo)


Lancelot 'Capability' Brown
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown (1716-1783) worked with landowners across England to create stunning, large-scale landscapes and was known as the 'omnipotent magician'. He dominated his profession and was prolific - his work is everywhere, but his was such a naturalistic style that all his best work was mistaken for untouched nature. The English Landscape Style developed by Brown and his contemporaries spread across Europe, Russia and North America and continues to shape contemporary landscape design.
Explore just some of the many Capability Brown landscaped gardens local to Broadway including:
Compton Verney, Warwickshire https://www.comptonverney.org.uk
Ragley Hall, Warwickshire https://www.ragley.co.uk/event/
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordhire Blenheim, Oxfordshire


Paver Patio Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodel, and Decor - page 10 Brick Pavers material and finish, Marshalls offers a wide range of products from paving to . Discover the endless options of outdoor concrete patio ideas for both front and backyards. . Belgard offers a wide variety of pavers for brick concrete and more. . are looking to create a walkway, patio or pool surround, today's pavers offer . bricks can be configured in a variety of patterns from herringbone and basket . 28 de fev de 2019 - Lafitt Grana Slab Patio Paver, Emerging Trends . Plank shapes are also available in the Belgard's versatile Moduline Series™, which offers an array of colors that allow designers to . Laying Patterns for Large Scale Pavers. The Belgard porcelain paver line offers several styles to create fabulous contemporary outdoor living . Ardesie Porcelain Paver Esterno Patio Kitchen Belgard . Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec offers pavings options for patios, pools, walkways, driveways, landscape . Awesome Paver Patio Ideas For Backyard. Whether you're looking to design a patio with pavers, brick or poured concrete, . This poolside patio designs from Reynolds-Sebastiani Design Services offers . The professional patio pavers at Pavers Made Possible in Sacramento can help you . Pavers Made Possible offers customers design ideas based on their . High quality garden stone, patio stone, and patio brick pavers by EP Henry, your outdoor . Our 2019 catalog features 144 pages of design ideas for your home.
Paver Patio Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodel, and Decor - page 10 Brick Pavers . Concrete Patio Colors stamped concrete patio in random stone pattern. Discover the endless options of outdoor concrete patio ideas for both front and . in different paver styles and colors help define the area and shape of this patio . Before we get into the patio paver design ideas, it is important to run through the stone selection. Pavers come in various combinations of colors, styles, sizes, . 11 de fev de 2019 - Discover the versatility of patio pavers with these 25 beautiful examples . pavers, which can be cast into a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. 20 de mai de 2019 - Pops of color everywhere liven up this formerly dull space. . And a 10-foot by 10-foot concrete paver patio provides a solid, dry base for all of . Brick Paver Patio, White Adirondack Chairs Paver Small's Landscaping Inc . Driveway Paving Stones, Light Colors Paver StoneScapes Design Hanover, MD. When creating a paver patio design take a look at some of these ideas to make your project stand out from the rest. Landscaping pavers, colors, shapes, patterns . There is an endless selection of materials, colors, sizes and paver patterns when installing a paver patio. How do you know which is best? Consider size . 23 de jun de 2017 - Choosing the Right Paver Color and Style for a Patio, Driveway, or Path . It comes in many styles and colors and with interlocking patterns, .


Prunus x yedoensis
Prunus x yedoensis is commonly known as a Cherry tree that is native to Japan. A graceful tree that is most well known for its dramatic and dense spring blooms that can be found in a variety of colors including white, pale pink, yellow and a bright pink. This is also considered as a very beautiful flowering cherry in various areas of the country, but probably most recognized for the grove planted along the tidal basin near the Jefferson memorial in Washington, DC. Check the dates for the Cherry Festival in Washington if you are traveling near DC in the spring, as it is true show stopper. The Dallas Arboretum also has a nice grove planted that are well worth a visit during spring.
This is a deciduous, fast growing tree which can grow up to 20-40 feet in height with a nice crown spread, but can be a bit short lived. It has a bark which is beautifully marked with lenticels. The tree has upright-spreading branches and because of this it is best suitable for planting over patios. The leaves generally brighten during fall to produce fall color ranging from orange to red. The flowers are lightly almond scented.
- Pros: Nice shape, beautiful spring blooms
- Cons: Rather bland after spring, can occasionally lean
- Size: 20-30' ht, 15-20' spread
- Light: Sun
- Bloom Color: White, pale pink, bright pink, yellow
- Fall Color: Orange, red, gold
- Water Needs: Normal
- Similar Plants: Crabapple, Dogwood, Crape Myrtle


Prune trees & shrubs. Do not prune dogwoods, azaleas, redbuds, and flowering cherry & peach trees.
Fertilize the spring flowers such as crocus, tulips, and daffodils as soon as you see their green foliage.
Test soil & add what is lacking.
Plan when and where to plant spring arrivals.
Apply pre-emergent to your lawn if you have crabgrass.
Start plants that you want to grow from seed indoors. Don't forget to water them!
Mulch around trees & beds
Prune roses between March 1-15th.
Mow liriope to cut the old foliage down to 2-3 inches in height. Be careful not to cut the crown.
As spring flowers such as tulips and narcissus begin to emerge, plant pansies between them for added color.
Get lawn mower blades sharpened prior to the summer rush.
Check for insects & disease and spray affected plants with horticultural oil when temps are above 45 degrees F.
Rake & apply seed to any bare lawn spots.
Don't mow the lawn until it is at least 2 inches tall.
Cut the dead flower stems from spring bulbs, but leave the foliage.
If hostas have holes, check for and treat slugs with sand or wood ashes around the plants.
Dig & divide dusty miller and replant the outside portion of the plant.
Deadhead perennials by pinching off spent blooms with your thumb and forefinger.
Check tomatoes for hornworm. If none, deliver some to your friend Windy.
When dead or damaged branches are found on shade trees, prune them out immediately.
Set out tomato plants if you want a fall crop.
Pick the yellow leaves off geraniums.
After blooming, snapdragons should be pinched back to produce a second bloom.
Order bulbs for fall plantings.
Cut dead stalks off daylillies when the last bud blooms.
Water beds once per week if there is no rain and lay mulch if needed.
Plant fall veggies such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, spinach, and lettuces.
Labor Day weekend is an ideal time to reseed your fescue lawn. Fescue is the recommended grass in our region, and being in a "transitional zone" we can enjoy both the St. Augustine and Fescue. Talk to your local gardening store such as Mcdonald Garden Center or Atlantic Garden Center for the best plan for your soil and conditions.
Plant trees, shrubs, and pansies.
Dig up and store caladium bulbs in shredded newspaper.
Clean up around your perennial flowers, such as rose and peony. Leaves left on the ground can harbor diseases & provide convenient homes for pests.
Cut back and destroy all dead perennials and annuals.
After chrysanthemums are killed by frost, cut them down in preparation for winter. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of loose mulch after the ground has frozen.
When a freeze is expected, cover winter vegetable crops with cloth.
Cut back dormant perennials to about 3 inches above ground. After the ground has frozen, plants can be mulched.
Rake leaves off the lawn.
Decorate for the holidays!!
Anyone who knows me, knows I do not have a green thumb. All the above information was provided by The Virginian-Pilot and was provided herein as a convenience to you.


Growing your own vegetable garden is extremely rewarding and fun. When you grow your veggies, harvest them and cook them in your kitchen, you literally bring food from the garden to the plate. If you need soil for building new garden beds, you can search for “topsoil near me” and buy some from the nearest store. Let’s learn about spring backyard vegetable gardens.
- Make the most out of available space – Location is key while building your backyard garden. It can make or break your backyard garden. Location decides everything from the amount of sunlight your plants receive and frost protection to available water resources. When location is so important, you can’t waste the real estate on that location. You need to make the most out of your available space.
Backyard gardeners often get greedy and want a sprawling garden that can grow everything they could ever eat. If you have a large property that can even accommodate space-hungry crops like pumpkins, corn, melons, and cucumbers then all the power to you. However, if you have limited space, that isn’t an option. Instead, you need to maximize the use of space so that it’s sustainable and easy to care for the garden. You can use anything from a few containers to entire raised garden beds. It will depend on the layout of your backyard and the existing landscape.
- Ditch row planting – To maximize the space in your garden, you need to get rid of traditional row planting. While single-row crops on 3 to 4 feet wide beds are highly efficient on large farms, they aren’t suitable for small gardens. Large farms have industrial farming machines for planting and harvesting those crops and symmetrical geometry helps. On the other hand, in a home garden, fewer rows are favorable since you don’t waste space for paths in between those rows.
If you already grow everything you need with traditional row farming, adopting open beds or raised beds will allow you to grow the same number of crops in a smaller space and use the rest for planting green-manure crops. This makes crop rotation and other types of farming easier. You can also add variety to your garden by planting cherry tomatoes or herbs in that newly freed-up space.
That’s not the end of it. When you get rid of row farming, intensely planted crops on raised and open garden beds keep the soil from compacting and prevent moisture loss by shading the soil. That means fewer resources are wasted and you can expend less effort. Moreover, when you get rid of row planting and widen the beds there are fewer paths to walk on, and that drastically unintentional soil compaction.
- Grow up – Apart from intensive plating, you can also adopt trellising for increasing efficiency. When people have small gardens, they usually lean to vertical farming with vertical supports for growing as many veggies as possible. Even if you have a large garden, you’ll need vertical support for growing climbers like pole beans and peas. This is called trellising and is often used for vining crops like tomatoes and cucumbers.
If your garden is located beside your fence, you can make it serve a dual purpose. You can replace the old fence with a trellised version that uses crisscrossing wooden slats or some other material that provides plenty of leverage to climbers. This way the fence acts as a support for the garden veggies while shielding your property at the same time. For heavier veggies like melons and tomatoes, you may need to manually tie the developing products to the fence.
- Plant crops for continuous harvest – You need to plant crops in such a way that you get to harvest them and eat them fresh throughout the upcoming season. Plant a few transplants or seeds at a time throughout the spring season. It takes less effort and doesn’t require a lot of commitment on your part. Get the calendar and mark something new you can plant each week of the growing season.
For instance, if you want to eat fresh peas and other tiny greens, you can plant them during the winter for an early spring harvest. On the other hand, you can plant peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes when the frost goes away, and the soil is warmer. When you adopt the practice of succession planting you can extend your harvest season as long as you want. You don’t need to be buried by a mountain or beans or squash. Since you’re not a farmer that can sell those crops, you’ll be bored very quickly and end up wasting that food. Instead, when the harvest season can be stretched you get to try something different every week and keep the palette stimulated.
- Plants for your spring backyard garden – Before you start planting crops in your garden, you need to choose the crops carefully. Instead of growing random exotic crops, it’s better to figure out which crops your family likes to eat. You don’t want to grow those veggies for your kids to reject. Once that’s done, you can choose from a vast variety of plants that are suitable for growing in your region.
Some common spring veggies grown in backyard gardens include cucumber, honeydew, carrots, beets, tomatoes, beans, and broccoli. You can also grow aromatics like garlic. If you plant cucumbers during the spring, you can enjoy fresh cucumber water throughout summer. On the other hand, honeydew can be planted in late spring when the soil is warmer. If you have space for a small herb garden bed, you can also grow sage, mint, and chives during the spring season.
As you can see, spring backyard vegetable gardening isn’t too difficult. All it needs is a rudimentary understanding of the soil and plants and plenty of elbow grease. To make sure that your veggie garden grows perfectly you need to create a decent garden bed and it starts with sourcing the right topsoil. You can do that by searching for “topsoil near me” and buying some from a local store.


Designing, Choosing, and Maintaining Easy-care Plantings
Using Perennials as your guide, you can create a garden that will remain beautiful and carefree for years to come - just buy once, plant once, and enjoy year after year. No matter how big your garden is - whether your borders stretch away into the distance or you have only a little corner to cram with colour - this book will help you create the garden of your dreams to enjoy season after season.
The first section shows one how to create great-looking, trouble-free gardens by mixing perennial flowers with grasses, shrubs, annuals and bulbs. The second section introduces one to a whole alphabet of appealing plants. Illustrated with over 300 beautiful photographs of irresistible plants and inspiring gardens.
Special features include:
Published by Reader's Digest
Hardback, 256 pages, 248 x 215 mm


Group Leader: Eileen Brown
Venue: Saxo Moraira 14:00
Frequency: normally 3rd Tuesday of the month
Check with group leader for meeting location and time
Eileen Brown is the new leader of the gardening group. She trained and worked as a Garden Designer in the UK and had her own business designing and maintaining gardens with a team. She says that obviously she knows quite a lot about English gardens but is starting to experience Spanish ones as well. The previous garden groups were very successful and we hope to offer gardening expertise, demonstrations and garden visits. Visit our gardens and share experiences. Organise trips to visit gardens open to the public and other places of special interest.
Contact Eileen Brown: email@example.com
[wp_cpl_sc cat_id=44 sort_using=4 sort_order=”des” SHOW_COMMENTS=false SHOW_DATE=false SHOW_AUTHOR=false EXCERPT_LENGTH=250 list_num=71]


Our State’s waterways, from Barton Creek to Galveston Bay, are the pride of Texas communities. They provide the water we drink, the rivers where we kayak, and the banks along which we play.
Unfortunately, runoff pollution threatens our water. The concrete jungle of development prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground, forcing it to run over roofs and roads, picking up oil, toxic chemicals, litter and animal waste. When this polluted water reaches our waterways it makes us sick and threatens the habitat of our wildlife.
The solution to runoff pollution is nature-based infrastructure, including rain gardens, green roofs, and the conservation of natural spaces. These techniques allow rainwater to soak into the ground, filtering out pollution, slowing floods, reducing erosion, and restoring our aquifers. Texas can use these features to protect our waterways. That’s why we’re calling on Texan communities to increase the use of nature-based infrastructure statewide: through innovative municipal policy, statewide research, and private development leadership. To protect our clean water, let’s use the best tools we have.


Explore seven acres of beautiful seasonal gardens that are open year round. Stroll along paved pathways to discover unique features including a water garden with hundreds of colorful Koi, a Japanese garden with an authentic tea house and numerous Japanese maples. Little ones will enjoy a children's garden and a cozy cottage. The Contemplation garden honors the five branches of the military. Special events are hosted throughout the year with Wedding and private event rentals available. The Gift shop is open 10am-4pm weekdays and master gardeners and a horticulture agent are on-site to provide unbiased research-based gardening advice.


I had high expectations of Hampstead Heath Pergola. I wanted a serene, other-worldly secret garden fit for ambling walks and dramatic pathways that wouldn’t look out of place on a hill-top in Capri. Luckily, that’s exactly what it is.
This quiet, secluded garden was the brainchild of Lord Leverhulme in the early 1900s. The wealthy philanthropist (who lived in the sprawling mansion house that sits ‘next-door’) envisaged a spectacular space for extravagant Edwardian parties and long summer evenings with his family.
His dream was realised in 1906 when the first phase of the work on his Pergola was completed.
It may look like an Italian paradise, but the pergola has Hampstead to its core: the landscape of this special place was created with the help of soil dug up during the extension of the Northern Line to Hampstead.
After the Pergola was extended in 1911, work was interrupted by The Great War. The project was finally completed after another extension shortly before Leverhulme’s death in 1925.
The garden became run-down during World War II and by the time Hampstead Heath was taken over by the City of London Corporation in 1989, many of the original timbers of the Pergola were twisted, rotted and covered in climbing plants.
Much of the stonework was missing or damaged and Leverhulme’s grand Pergola was a shadow of its former glory.
The Hill Garden and Pergola (as it’s now known) has since been restored. Although there’s more work to be done, in my opinion it hasn’t lost any of its charm.
The sweeping views of the gardens are fit for one of London’s Historic Royal Palaces and the overgrown plants winding their way around the stonework of the Pergola only serve to make it look more exquisite.
Lord Leverhulme, I like your style.
Opening hours: 8.30am until early evening (check the City of London website for specific times)
Nearest Tube: Hampstead
More information: See the City of London’s guide to the Pergola’s history (link opens a PDF).
You might like…
- 21 quiet parks and secret gardens in London to escape to this spring
- Camley Street Natural Park: Yes, there really IS a nature reserve in King’s Cross
- A brief history of Christ Church Greyfriars: plague, fire, war and English reformation


8 reasons to pre-funk summer this spring in Bend
April 10, 20247 minute read
Few things say “community,” like local parks and playgrounds. Many of our earliest memories are from these places. Swings, slides, and games of tag on a sprawling lawn in interurban green spaces are where many of us first develop a love of the outdoors.
Bend is proud to offer over 3,000 acres of such spaces. You can explore 84 parks and designated open spaces maintained by the Bend Park & Recreation District. Pilot Butte State Park and Tumalo State Park also offer an impressive array of recreational opportunities just minutes from Bend, making them ideal options for those seeking parks near me.
Many of these facilities offer kid-friendly playgrounds for a safe, fun, open-air experience for the youngest among us. Most provide public facilities, including fresh drinking water and flush toilets. Some offer unique features like disc golf courses, river access, dog off-leash areas, and developed hiking trails. Field and court sports enthusiasts will gravitate towards several primary options, including Pine Nursery Park, Big Sky Park, and Skyline Sports Complex.
When the snow flies, The Pavilion offers a covered, full-size ice rink for open-rink ice skating and hockey/curling. Additionally, the trail network and open field space at many of these options provide ample room for snow play, snowshoeing, and even cross country skiing right in town after a good storm cycle.
Below, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite parks and kid’s playgrounds around town. Looking for information on dog parks, specifically? Here are some off-leash areas in Bend.
One of Bend’s newest park’s, Alpenglow brings a vibrant community hub to a newly developed part of town. It features Bend’s only free splash pad, a playground with musical elements, accessible play equipment, and a covered picnic area. Alpenglow’s dedicated bouldering area is also a first for the city of Bend. This 37-acre natural space in SE Bend features 3.5 miles of developed trails and a large lawn for gatherings and play.
Downriver from the iconic smokestacks of the Old Mill District, you’ll find the Colorado Avenue spillway. This spillway has been modified to provide a set of whitewater features. These features bring smiles to the faces of all river users. From a gentle passage to a set of waves that expert kayakers and surfers line up for, this project offers a wide range of experiences.
The Whitewater Park stands as one of the most unique endeavors the Bend Park & Recreation District has ever undertaken. And it has quickly become a hallmark feature of the city of Bend for all sorts of river users, even the wild ones! Please steer clear of the east side of the channel, which is a designated habitat for ecologically sensitive wildlife. Dogs and kids can enjoy from the beachfront, just downstream on the west side of the channel, at McKay Park.
On the East edge of town lies the sprawling 97-acre sports complex we call Big Sky. Sports fields here host soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. A BMX track, pump track, skills area, and singletrack bike trails complete the new Big Sky Bike Park. An off-leash area for dogs, a playground, and several covered picnic areas make this a popular destination.
South of the Galveston corridor on Bend’s westside is Columbia Park. This is one of Bend’s most treasured play areas. It features a giant pirate-themed play structure on the shores of the Deschutes River. Enjoy swings, a covered picnic area, and a sprawling lawn. A pedestrian bridge also accesses the Deschutes River Trail and the Old Mill District/Downtown areas. Columbia is a fantastic option for those with little ones who need to get some wiggles out before a day on the town.
In the heart of Downtown Bend, Drake Park serves as a gathering place for the entire community. Bordering the Mirror Pond on its western shores, this park offers sprawling lawn space for multipurpose use. Catch a free outdoor concert here on Thursday evenings in the summertime for Munch & Music. Gather leaves for fall photos. Or simply meet a friend for a coffee and a stroll along the riverbank. It’s hard to spend any time in Bend without at least admiring this park as you pass by.
Informally known as “The Boat Park,” Harmon Park is one of Bend’s oldest public parks. It’s located along the shores of the Deschutes River across from Drake Park and Downtown Bend. It’s a favorite in the downtown area. It features river access for small self-propelled watercraft, a playground with modern equipment, and two ballfields. You can also find the original steel tugboat replica that serves as the park’s namesake.
Serving as the launchpad for the City of Bend’s annual 4th of July fireworks showcase, Pilot Butte is an ancient cinder cone that sits central to the city and offers grand views of the Cascade mountains from the top. Be sure to take a moment to use the mountain identifier atop the hill if you do make the trek. Hike or run up the unpaved trail to the summit, ride your bike, or drive (during select hours) up the access road, gaining around 500 feet from its base.
The 159-acre campus of Pine Nursery Park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. However, it’s perhaps best known for having the largest pickleball facility in the area. In addition to the 16 dedicated pickleball courts, there are numerous fields for a variety of sports. Enjoy a disc golf course, a fishing pond, a 14-acre off-leash dog park, sand volleyball courts, and more. The park, located in NE Bend, offers outstanding facilities for a host of activities.
The site of Bend’s original city skatepark, Ponderosa Park is located just south of Pilot Butte. The park also offers a playground, a basketball court, a court marked for pickleball, an off-leash dog park, and plentiful grass space.
The Riley Ranch Nature Reserve spans 184 acres of land along the Deschutes River canyon on the NW edge of town. It provides a sense of separation from the hustle of city life within just a stone’s throw. Dogs and bicycles are prohibited at Riley Ranch. But runners and hikers have several great options from the parking area on Glen Vista Road. Above the canyon, a 1.57-mile soft-surface loop offers grand views of the Cascade Range and the Deschutes River canyon below. For more adventurous explorers, there’s the Canyon Loop, a rugged 1.25-mile dirt trail that leads down to the river. For those interested in more adventure, 6.5 miles of trail connect the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve to Tumalo State Park. This trail follows along the Deschutes River and passes the confluence of Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River. Birdwatching, fishing, and even historical education are major attractions in this unique space.
Shevlin Park covers a vast 1,000 acres on the northwestern edge of town. It flanks Tumalo Creek as it passes from the Bend watershed where it meets the Deschutes. This park boasts a rich pioneer history and an incredible diversity of tree species, including western larch, spruce, ponderosa pine, and aspen. The phenomenal trail network both in and around the park makes it stand out as one of Bend’s best natural experiences.
Just beyond the northern city limits is Tumalo State Park. It offers the only government-run campground within 5 miles of Bend. But even for those not looking for camping, it provides some spectacular day-use features. A popular fishing destination, the park has public access via the Deschutes River Trail. Whether you head north or south from the park, you’ll find plenty of great spots to please fishers, even on the busiest days. The trail access to the south connects to the Riley Ranch Nature Preserve. To the north, it leads to the town of Tumalo, creating a 3.5-mile stretch of riverfront trail. Please note that bikes are not allowed on the section south of the park. River access is plentiful right from the grassy shores of the park. Enjoy river play and crayfish hunting here and use it as a launch point for floating the Tumalo section of the Deschutes.
While this list may feel extensive, it only accounts for a small fraction of the options available within Bend. It’s a lot! Here’s an A-Z directory from the Bend Park & Recreation District’s website with a summary and map guidance to each park in the district.
Between fun trips out to the many natural wonders that surround Bend and the countless breweries/cafes right here in town, it’s always nice to have a great park to relax or play in within an arm’s reach.


PROJECT: Nature and Wellbeing Centre
CLIENT: Kent Wildlife Trust
TYPE: RIBA Competition
DATE: December 2017
In December 2017, SISCO Architecture ltd entered an international competition to design a Nature and Well-being centre at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Our vision for the scheme was one of sensitive engagement with the wildlife that flourishes within the unique environment of the reserve. We utilised natural materials such as stone and locally sourced timber to ensure the proposal immersed itself within the surrounding landscape. Our design sought to maximise the connection between architecture and nature with contrasting degrees of enclosure and transparency.


Angus Thompson is a landscape & garden designer, based in Oxford, UK.
His work is characterised by an interplay between thoughtful, bold interventions and generous, naturalistic planting. It intuitive and sensitive.
Established his Oxford Landscape & Garden design practice following his studies at the internationally renowned Inchbald School of Design 2004, where he received the Principals Award.
We collaborate closely with architects, interior designers, and contractors in order to offer our clients a seamless experience from initial concept to completed landscape. We have designed show gardens including the Gold Medal winning 'Nature Ascending' garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2009, and 'Lust for Life' in Chelsea 2007.
Angus leads dynamic team, each with differing skills covering Planting, CAD, Illustration, Material sourcing, Maintenance and marketing/PR. We pride ourselves in being a small enough team to be ‘responsive' to client needs, yet with enough 'flex' to embrace the larger projects we are currently involved in.
Angus is a guest lecturer at the Inchbald School of Garden Design.
Our design ethos is to search for the purest response to each site, client & brief.
We adopt an uncluttered approach; best described as ‘quietly contemporary’ and explore natural materials, aged patinas and textural contrasts within a modern aesthetic.
Our aim is to create gardens that look beautiful, but which also encourage exploration, play or quiet repose.
Our planting style tends towards the layering of dynamic, natural planting communities to juxtapose with the underlying design structure. We believe in ‘right plant, right place’ and wherever possible adopt sustainable solutions.


City councils around the country have been unanimously approving plans for edible landscapes. Des Moines could very much benefit from some well thought out urban gardens. We should make sure that our residents are encouraged to plant trees, food, and pollinator friendly habitat on their properties. We should make sure that regulations against growing food or gardens in the city are not ill-conceived or outdated. Through coordinated planting we can help work with our planet and our pollinators for a better future. We should consider bat boxes as a more affordable and more ethical way to address mosquitos and to keep bats out of people’s homes.
These concepts are built around the ideas of permaculture and regenerative agriculture. A food forest is a core permaculture design derived from wild food ecosystems, where land often becomes forest if left to its own devices. In a food forest, everything from the tree canopy to the roots is edible or useful in some way. I have spoken with multiple Des Moines residents that have grown over 8,000 lbs. of organic food on less than an acre of land each. Forests of food on city land, for the people, by the people. We can work together to give our citizens access to quality, healthy, fresh and local food. What could be more Midwest American than that?


Monday, January 18, 2010
Installing a Brick Paver Patio (Part 4)
Lets start out by recapping nailing in the spikes for the edging. As a company rule, we install a spike, skip (2) holes, and then install another spike. If we are edging really tight curves, then we spike every other hole. After you have installed the edging, we take and shovel dirt over and against the brick edging. We then take the plate compactor and tamp the soil around the outside of the patio. This provides two things. First, it must be done so that as it rains we are less likely to have washout. Second, this helps in allowing no movement in the brick pavers. Next, we take bags of polymeric sand and dump them out on the patio. We take a broom and very lightly broom the sand all over the patio. You want the loose polymeric sand to be about 1/4" deep and do not worry about sweeping the polymeric sand into the joints. A 1/4" of loose sand allows the plate compactor to glide over the patio causing less damage to the brick pavers. You will need to compact the entire patio in (3) different directions.


The City of Vancouver will have a new jewel in its green crown this summer as workers put the finishing touches on the massively expanded Emery Barnes Park in the city’s downtown core.
The newest addition to the city’s growing stock of community gardens and urban oases that have been sprouting up from Dunbar to the Downtown Eastside is a huge redevelopment of the land adjacent to Emery Barnes Park at Seymour and Davie streets in Yaletown.
The $5.5-million park expansion began late last year with the demolition and removal of half a block of old, asbestos-laden buildings to make way for a new off-leash dog park, a futuristic-looking children’s play structure and a sprawling central lawn surrounded by benches and a grand entranceway.
This, the second phase of a three-phase project to transform the block into public green space, has already nearly doubled the scale of the original park, which was built in 2003 and named after a longtime community activist and former NDP MLA.
Though Phase 2 of the development was supposed to be completed last fall, work crews were delayed when it was discovered that one of the five buildings to be demolished — a formal-wear store — was structurally secured to the Brookland Court building on Helmcken, which is staying put for the time being.
Barb Floden, a park board spokeswoman, said that since 2000, the city has added 11 new city parks and expanded nine others for a total of 22 hectares of new park space in just 10 years. And although it might appear that new green space projects like the Emery Barnes expansion are cropping up almost overnight, all three phases of the plan were drawn up and decided in 1997.
Scheduled to begin late this summer, Phase 3 will see the removal of the last building on the north side of Davie Street between Seymour and Richards streets, where the park’s entrance plaza will be constructed.
“The park board has a policy to add to our park inventory whenever possible and there’s no new land in Vancouver, obviously, so many of our more recent parks are through the redevelopment of sites, the demolition of buildings,” Floden said.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun


Whether you’re new to gardening, or just want to set up fuss-free landscaping around your home, this list of the easiest plants to grow in your garden will set you in the right direction!
As any new gardener will tell you, growing a beautiful decorative garden around your home and in your yard can be deceptively difficult. It’s definitely not as easy as just buying a few plants from the garden centre, sitting back, and watching as they fill in and create the lush garden of your dreams. TV shows make it seem that way though, don’t they? Often times, the plants that you think will be the easiest plants to grow end up being a huge challenge, while others just seem to thrive no matter how much you neglect them.
Of course, sunlight, growing conditions, and how much time you have to dedicate to their care will impact how well your plants do, but you can definitely stack the deck in your favour but choosing certain plants that have been proven over the years to be super easy to grow successfully with very little upkeep needed.
The Easiest Plants to Grow
The plants that I’ve listed here are the ones that do best in my area, which is in gardening zone 6, but they should also do really well if you’re a few zones up or a few zones down from where I am as well. If you’re in doubt about what kind of plants will grow well in your area, just look around at the gardens in your town. If there are one or two things that you notice that everyone seems to be growing, chances are that’s because they do really well in your area without much effort at all!
Hostas come in all different shapes and sizes, and in many different shades of green. They usually prefer full- to part-shade and most varieties are very low-growing. They’re amazing for the front part of a garden border because they fill it in really nicely while allowing you to still see everything else behind them.
There are many peony fans out there and for good reason. The show-stopping flowers only bloom for a couple of weeks in the late spring, but their beauty is pretty much unrivalled in the plant world. And they’re easy to grow! Once they’re established they basically require no care at all. Actually, they seem to do better the more you ignore them, which definitely makes them one of the easiest plants to grow. 🙂
Chives are of course an edible herb, but feel free to use them in your decorative gardens as well. Their fresh green spikes shoot up early in the spring and they’re usually one of the first signs of life in your spring garden. Their purple flowers add some nice color to your garden in late spring as well. Chives prefer a lot of sun, but will still do pretty well if you need to plant them in the shade.
A Sedum is basically like a big succulent that you plant right in your perennial border. They maintain a compact shape and have frosty green leaves for most of the season, but send out bright flowers, usually a soft pink or burgundy, in the fall that really add to the fall color in your yard. These also do really well in very hot, low-water situations, but they tolerate an area with high humidity and long rainy periods like we have here as well.
Black Eyed Susan
This is one of those plants that everyone in my area grows. Black Eyed Susans bloom with bright orange flowers from mid-summer until fall, then they self seed so you end up with more and more every year. These are great if you have a large area that you want to fill in with summer color, but they’re also pretty easy to pull out if you want to keep them a little more contained.
Purple Cone Flower
I love how this old-fashioned flower springs up from seemingly nothing to 4 or 5 feet high by the end of the summer. Their cheerful purple flowers become a focal point in the summer garden and all you need to do it give them a little support as they get taller and taller. A stake in the ground and some twine is enough to do the trick!
In the late summer when things can start to look a little tired or a little overgrown in your garden, is when Liatris springs to life with eye-catching spikes of bright purple flowers. I discovered this plant because it was just growing here when we moved in and it’s been such a great performer for us, even during those years where we had very little time to get out in the garden. I love that it just looks like a boring little patch of grass during the spring and early summer and then all of a sudden – surprise! – purple spikes!
A Couple of Shrubs: Rose of Sharon and Forsythia
If you’re just starting to fill your gardens, a couple of shrubs can be really helpful to anchor your design and to give you the look of a mature garden more quickly. I love Forsythia because it’s fast-growing and it’s one of the first things to bloom in the early spring. In the summer it fills in with dark green leaves that help make your garden look lush and healthy, even when your area is going through a dry spell.
Rose of Sharon on the other hand remains dormant until the late spring. By mid summer the Rose of Sharon bushes are full of bright pink flowers that almost have a tropical look to them, perfect for a summer garden of course. In my experience, both of these shrubs really prefer as much sun as possible and will reward you greatly if you give them that, and basically nothing else.
So those are some of my favourites that seem to come back bigger and better every year, no matter what I do. If you’re looking to get started with gardening, or are just looking for more gardening success, these plants are definitely where I would recommend starting! 🙂
What are some of your favourite easiest plants to grow?
Don’t forget to pin this post so you can remind yourself of what to look for at the garden centre!
MORE IDEAS LIKE THIS
- How to Sharpen Pruning Shears
- Storing Garden Tools
- Using Galvanized Containers as Planters
- How to Harvest Basil for Strong, Healthy Plants
- The Mayonnaise House Plant Trick
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.


Running over the spring this year in April and May, the Fife Gardeners are offering an opportunity to visit a number of privately owned gardens across Central and East Fife.
This offers a very flexible way to keep up your weekly dose of beautiful gardens, and excellent value for money. Fife can look quite bleak in March, with brown arable fields and fringed by a cold North Sea, but by April, the countryside is starting to burst into verdant colours, and our gardens are also starting to bloom. A wide variety of gardens are on offer, from bluebell and daffodil woodlands, through natural style plantings of rhododendrons and other spring flowering shrubs, to more formal garden settings in some of Fife’s most notable gardens, large and small.
The gardens taking part are:
£25 for entrance to all gardens. Accompanied children free. Pre-sales tickets available only online at Eventbrite. Tickets otherwise available on the day at the gardens. Gardens can also be visited individually for £5.00 each.
View all events


Research at Virginia Tech, led by Susan Day and the Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab has evaluated the effects of Soil Profile Rebuilding on ecosystem service provision to assess its suitability as a post-land development soil rehabilitation technique. Results have been published in peer-reviewed journal articles and the technique has been described in trade journal articles. Many people contributed to the creation of this specification and the evolution of the research including: Yujuan Chen, W. Lee Daniels, Roger Harris, Rachel Layman, Bill Mauzy, David, Mitchell, Kevin McGuire, Kaj Rolf, Brian Strahm, Abbey Wick, and P. Eric Wiseman.
Additional support was provided by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Research.
Day, S.D. 2016 Soil Profile Rebuilding: An Alternative to Soil Replacement. City Trees. Sept/Oct 2016.
Layman, R.L., S.D. Day, D.K. Mitchell, Y. Chen, J.R. Harris, and W.L. Daniels. 2016. Below ground matters: Urban soil rehabilitation increases
tree canopy and speeds establishment. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 16: 25-35.
Chen, Y., S.D. Day, Shrestha, R.K., Strahm, B.D., Wiseman, P.E. 2014. Influence of urban land development and soil rehabilitation on soil‐atmosphere greenhouse gas fluxes. Geoderma. 226‐227 (1): 348‐353.
Chen, Y., S.D. Day, A.F. Wick, and K.J. McGuire. 2014. Influence of urban land development and subsequent soil rehabilitation on soil aggregates, carbon, and hydraulic conductivity. Science of The Total Environment, 494-495: 329–336
Chen, Y., S.D. Day, A.F. Wick, B.D. Strahm, P.E. Wiseman, and W.L. Daniels. 2013. Changes in soil carbon pools and microbial biomass from urban land development and subsequent post-development soil rehabilitation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 66: 38–44.
Soil Profile Rebuilding: Rehabilitating Compacted Soils by Dr. Susan Day for Tree Fund (June 2017). YouTube, 1 hour 30 minutes.


Monarchs are in need of habitat that will sustain their lifecycle. This means they need host plants (milkweed) and seasonal nectar plants that will bloom in the spring, summer and fall.
Mostly, Monarchs need native milkweed. You can help Monarchs reproduce and population numbers rebound by creating breeding and feeding areas that include milkweed in your home garden, schoolyard or public landscape.
When planting for Monarchs, it is important to purchase or grow milkweed free of herbicides and pesticides that may poison and kill the caterpillars that must feed on it. Preferably, you will plant milkweed that belongs in your area and will do well in your climate zone and soil type. To learn more about the best milkweed and host plants where you live, contact your state’s Native Plant Society.
Native plants are loosely defined as plants that would have been found growing in an area at least 300 years ago, or before the arrival of European settlers. These plants are said to be naturally endemic to peculiar geographic regions, and some may have been present during the Holocene Epoch, which began just after the last Ice Age. Native plants tend to be hearty and especially useful to wildlife, including butterflies.


A work in progress, the Creekwalk already boasts a reputation of having the most attractive stretch of trail in the City of Syracuse. Providing a serene yet urban setting, the trail is currently complete from the historic Armory Square district in Downtown Syracuse to the southern shore of Onondaga Lake.
The Onondaga Creekwalk measures 2.6 miles and averages 13 feet wide. It will eventually connect to the progressing Loop the Lake Trail, as well as to the Erie Canalway Trail, scheduled to connect Canal communities from Albany to Buffalo along the 524-mile New York State Canal System. The Syracuse section of the Canalway Trail will actually connect 15 miles of trails in Onondaga County.
The Creekwalk extends both north and south from the Syracuse Inner Harbor. Heading north toward Onondaga Lake, a paved pathway follows the western shoreline of the Inner Harbor and Barge Canal for almost ¾ mile, offering opportunities for all sorts of recreational activity, including in-line skating and bicycling, fishing along the shoreline, or enjoying a public concert at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. The northern trail offers exciting new access to views of the historic Barge Canal and the changing Syracuse Lakefront Area.
Perhaps the most beautifully landscaped trail section in Syracuse, the Franklin Square Creekwalk section to the south of the Harbor traverses for approximately ¾ mile past a mix of historic structures, new offices and residential buildings before continuing under Route 690 to Downtown.
The importance of this multi-use trail system, including the Onondaga Creekwalk, Onondaga Lake Trail, NYS Canalway Trail, and various smaller feeder trails, is recognized by our municipal officials, various community groups, private development interests, and planning and economic development organizations. Benefits derived from further development the Onondaga Creekwalk trail include, but are not limited to:
Provision of a transportation network which may be efficiently used as an alternative to the automobile. This trail system will ensure accessibility by the disabled and to bikers, in-line skaters, skateboarders and walkers.
Provision of urban trails and pedestrian linkages serving a large population within our metropolitan center, with connections to our job centers, neighborhoods, park spaces and waterfronts.
Recognition, conservation and celebration of our waterways. Onondaga Creek and Onondaga Lake have been long neglected. Focus is now being redirected back towards the water and the recreational, environmental and economic benefits attributed to them.
Realization of quality of life issues in the revitalization of our community, recognizing an increased public value placed on recreation, parks, and public open space, as evidenced by Syracuse TNT sector neighborhood planning goals and the FOCUS Greater Syracuse Vision Fair.
Extension of an existing recognized trail system, and the provision of linkages to larger state-wide trail systems such as the NYS Canalway Trail as well as local trails such as the Onondaga Lake Circumferential Trail and various neighborhood feeder trails.
Phase I - Connecting Armory Square to Onondaga Lake
Due to some difficult logistical challenges of rediscovering a waterway in an urbanized area, the project will be constructed in phases over the course of two years, starting in fall 2009, and completed in fall 2011. The City of Syracuse began the right-of-way acquisition portion of the project in January of 2005.
Linking Section – A permanent section was constructed on the west bank of Onondaga Creek from Spencer St. to Kirkpatrick St., passing through the Syracuse Parks Department Main Office property at 412 Spencer St. This replaced a temporary trail extension between the two existing segments of the Onondaga Creekwalk, from Maltbie St. to Kirkpatrick St. This link is approximately 0.1 mile between the already existing sections.
Northern Extension – This segment extended the Creekwalk north approximately one-half mile, from its previous terminus just north of Bear Street to the southern Onondaga Lake shoreline. This trail started at the existing trail along the west side of the Barge Canal, traveled north to Hiawatha Blvd, where it crosses over the Barge Canal to the east side. The trail then proceeds north along the east side of the Barge Canal. At an undetermined future date, it will connect to both the Carousel Center and the planned 12-mile Loop the Lake Trail (being planned by Onondaga County). For now, it dead ends at the lake. Design character followed that established in the Inner Harbor, as a natural landscape element.
Southern Extension – This segment continued the walkway south from its point of departure at Franklin Square toward Downtown Syracuse. This 0.6-mile segment travels alongside Onondaga Creek to Armory Square. The Creekwalk passes the historic Art Deco Niagara Mohawk building, offers views and connections with several downtown streets, and terminates at the popular Armory Square mixed-use district.
Green Infrastructure – The City of Syracuse has partnered with Onondaga County to incorporate green infrastructures, including porous asphalt pavement for parking areas and some portions of the trail, flexible porous pavement, porous concrete pavement, vegetated swales, and rain gardens. These initiatives will help decrease the storm water runoff that flows into the Onondaga Creek (and ultimately Onondaga Lake), which benefits the environment.
Safety and Accessibility – An important consideration in the design of the walkway was the safety and aesthetic appeal of the trail system. Design elements such as elevated and at-grade walkways, ADA compliant ramps, lighting, railings, fencing, landscape development, signage, pedestrian street crossings, benches, bollards, overlooks, and other amenities are all included are all necessary for a quality urban trail system that people will feel comfortable using.
Creekwalk Phases II and III (Future Phases)
The feasibility study for the Creekwalk Phase II (Extension from Armory Square south to Kirk Park) was completed in February, 2008. This project has not yet received funding for the design phase. Phase III, which is only a concept at this time, would extend the Creekwalk to the southern border of the City, at Dorwin Ave.
It has been recognized by several entities working to progress trail systems in our community and statewide, that construction of this section of the Onondaga Creekwalk will be one of the most challenging sections of the entire 500-plus mile NYS Canalway Trail. However, its ultimate public benefit is unquestionable.


Established 23 years ago and based in Melbourne, Zenith Concepts specialises in designing beautiful, functional landscapes to meet Town Planning Specifications.
We work with Architects, Building Designers, Developers and Town Planners, to create landscapes for a wide range of developments. To date, we have completed designs for Multi-Unit Developments, Housing Sub-Divisions, Apartments, Industrial and Commercial Developments, Aged Care Facilities, Student Accommodation and Childcare Centres.
Zenith Concepts works across the Metropolitan area and surrounding regions. We also undertake selected interstate projects.


Why You Need to Consider Hardscaping
It is imperative to point out that curb appeal will every so often be of great relevance to both your residential and commercial space. You will find that it will in most cases be definitive of the persons that will be attracted to your property. This can easily be handled by hardscaping. You will note that it will often incorporate various man-made features into the entire landscape. Hardscaping purposes to boost the image and reputation of the property. You will realize that hardscaping will guarantee a number of benefits to you as well as your entire property. They will every so often consist of the following. Learn about Gainesville hardscapes
You will learn that it will often assure you of elegance as well as efficiency. You will note that hardscaping will easily be maintained at a relatively low cost. This is premised on the fact that it will bring down the need to water as well as prune. This does indicate that there will be no need for you to have professional landscapers very now and then. Lesser water will be used given that less organic material will be used. This will actually save a considerable amount on your water bills. You will also find that it will make sure that you have an extra dimension on your property. This will often come as an addition to the aesthetic appeal it will grant you. It will often create more seating space and even allow team building activities.
You will note that there will be an improvement in accessibility. Easy access to your property will often be very beneficial to your potential visitors and clients. You will learn that a good number of people will often keep off places that tend to inconvenience them. With hardscaping, you will be able to easily overcome this challenge. You will also note that this hardscaping can be done in a way that enhances privacy. It will distract the view to any place where important matters are to be taken care of. This hardscaping will also last for a relatively long period of time. This is regardless of how harsh the sun might be. You will realize that hot seasons will every so often be quite overwhelming to the commercial landscape. This will time and again bring about the death of so many plants. Hardscaping will often handle this. This in itself will guarantee you affordability. See more about Gainesville lawn care
You will find that this hardscape will be quite easy to fix as well as maintain. The materials used in this landscaping have actually been used for considerably long. Natural stone is often used in this hardscape. This is among the easiest things for one to maintain. It will offer you an appealing exterior for quite a long period of time.


As winter approaches its end, tiny slivers of green begin to reach out from below the melting snow and the thawing earth to remind us that spring is near. It’s a hopeful sign, a sign of rebirth and renewal and we all begin to watch and wait for those small green buds to bloom and dot the landscape with color. Our gorgeous photographs of tulips are wonderful images to add to any marketing or advertising this time of year.
As spring approaches, we all start dreaming of all things green and growing, and if you’re a gardener, landscape artist or a gardening shop, you are not just dreaming, but are also planning for spring. While vegetable garden plans are the seeds of future nourishment, flower gardens are pure beauty and joy. Let Cutcaster help you find flower illustrations and photographs to fill out your garden plan or to let your customers know that it’s time to buy seeds and start their seedlings, and make their dreams reality.


Residents and visitors to the borough can now get more acquainted with Bromley’s recently planted trees, with the new GT Watering QR codes and app.
Introduced in the recent planting and watering season of 2022/23, Bromley Council’s tree watering and maintenance contractor, Gristwood and Toms, have installed QR code cards on each newly planted Treemendous tree in the borough. These QR codes, unique to each tree, allow information about each tree to be regularly updated, particularly during the watering season, giving details as to when they have been watered and what maintenance has been carried out.
Councillor Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment, says “It is really important we are able to monitor progress being made to maintain our trees. These QR codes will make it easier for our contractors, Tree Friends, and residents to help keep the borough’s trees in good condition. During the warmer months of the year particularly, the trees need plenty of water, which is part of our programme and the QR codes help to manage this process. A big thank you to our Tree Friends and residents that have helped us by watering their local street tree in the summer. We look forward to seeing more Treemendous trees being planted in the borough this year.”
Since summer 2023, residents have been able to download the GT Watering app on IOS (Android coming soon) to scan and include details of their own watering to help support the regular 50 litres (11 gallons) of watering being carried out by the council during watering seasons. The app also allows residents to report issues with certain trees, which are logged with Gristwood and Toms directly for their attention. Should residents not have access to the app, they are also able to scan the QR using the camera on their device, with which they can view the tree details and the watering schedule via a web link. Whilst this webpage does not offer full functionality, it does allow residents and Tree Friends to view some information about that tree.
In the last planting season, Bromley Council planted 1590 Treemendous trees in the borough, of which 1250 were brand new trees, with the additional 340 replacing felled or failed trees. To date, more than 3000 street trees have been planted of the targeted 5000 over the 4 year period since 2021. This number does not include tree planting for replacing damaged or dead trees or those trees which needed to be felled because of disease or for safety reasons, which is in addition to the numbers stated above.
Residents can also support their local trees by becoming a Tree Friend. The council’s Tree Friends help to water trees in the summer, removing damaged branches, and reporting issues with trees. To become a Tree Friend, residents can sign up at bromley.gov.uk/TreeFriends, where they can also report issues with trees and find out more about how to water them.
Residents are also being invited to suggest where new trees could be planted. In the 2022 planting season, over 230 of the 1250 new trees planted in the borough were sourced directly from resident requests. Visit www.bromley.gov.uk/trees for more information.
For media enquiries, please contact Justin Brown, Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8461 7872 or email email@example.com.


Rg Scatter Calif Poppies Seed
Scatter Garden Seeds
Cheerful Native California poppies are a perfect choice for hot, dry areas and grow almost anywhere without a fuss. Sow these silky, golden-orange poppies to cover a neglected or hard-to-cultivate area or for a memorable display in a large garden space. Their bright, fluted blossoms will dance above feathery gray-green foliage to cloak the ground for weeks. These natives are easy to grow and drought tolerant, providing a carefree spring carpet of bloom in all climate zones.
Ample 2.2 oz. seeds covers 600 to 700 sq.ft.


When Concrete Isn’t Enough, Hardscaping & Specialty Stone
Sometimes we get calls to come to look at existing Hardscaping and offer our expert opinions on more aesthetically pleasing options. Usually, this involves existing concrete patios or walkways, which can work but aren’t anything to get excited about.
Linda from Yardley, PA had such a job. With a large backyard that included an in-ground pool, patio, and other features, Linda wanted a more pleasing look for her home. All the white concrete was, well, boring. And Linda wanted a look that more represented her unique style.
We started by surveying the property and discussing Linda’s options. After showing her several different styles and colors, she settled on some cool ideas. For the upper patio, we went with Travertine, a natural specialty stone from Turkey with the look and feel of marble. Travertine doesn’t retain heat, so it’s easy to walk on even in the hot midday sun, and it certainly looks stunning. So, we removed the existing tile from the top of the concrete slab and installed Travertine on top. It was the perfect specialty stone choice for this property!
The concrete around the pool had begun to crack due to the extreme temperature changes in our region. The freezing of the ground due to moisture causes the earth to expand. When this occurs, the concrete heaves, which is how this cracking can occur. This is what had begun to happen at Linda’s beautiful pool. So, we decided to rip out the concrete around the pool and replace it with Cambridge three-piece ledge stone pavers with a 6 X 9 roundtable border.
Take a look at the beautiful work created by Cambridge Landscapes for Linda’s amazing backyard.
Linda’s case is not unusual. Many people have lived with concrete for a long time. It used to be the way to go and is a less expensive option. For many people, there is nothing wrong with concrete. It works, it lasts, and it looks good. But, for some people who need a more interesting look that improves the exterior quality to one of grander design, concrete just won’t cut it.
There are many different Hardscaping options. We use a lot of Cambridge pavers – yes, another company named Cambridge – EP Henry and Techoblock, which are the three top quality manufacturers of Hardscape products. All of these companies offer different styles and colors that give a plethora of options to choose from. When designing a backyard from a neutral white concrete to a colorful Hardscape, we look for contrasting colors that accentuate the exterior color of your home’s palette.
If you aren’t sure of the color, we can show you the styles and options, and assist you in making this big decision. But, trust that when the job is completed by Cambridge Landscapes, you will know that you made the right choice in working with a company whose mission is to ensure that we enhanced your home beyond your expectations.


Architect: M. Paul Friedberg and Associates, 1976
By the 1960s, the once fashionable Loring Park area had become run down. In response, both the Minneapolis City Council and the Downtown Council (a business leaders’ group) put forward plans in the early 1970s that emphasized the potential for high density residential redevelopment around the park. The city council’s plan created the Loring Park Development District, the centerpiece of which was the Loring Greenway. Fueled by tax-increment financing that effectively limits private developers’ risk, dozens of condominium and apartment buildings have been built that provide homes for thousands of people with a wide income range.
An important part of landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg’s strategy for the Greenway was to complement the dwelling units with a lush park-like environment that would compete with the suburbs. This worked splendidly. A walk on the Greenway feels like a walk in the woods. The trees team up with the high-rise buildings to make the Greenway a quiet and shaded place. But because pedestrians know, consciously or unconsciously, that people in the surrounding buildings may be watching, the feeling is one of cozy safety rather than danger.
Loring Park and the Greenway are named for Charles M. Loring, one of the city’s most far-sighted and generous philanthropists. After building the city’s flour-milling industry, Loring retired from business at age 47 in 1880 and devoted the rest of his life to civic concerns. Known as the father of the city’s park system, he established the first park commission and promoted the purchase of land for parks before those lands could be privatized. Today, 97 percent of Minneapolitans live within a 10-minute walk to a park. To a great degree because of Loring’s foresight, the Trust For Public Land has designated Minneapolis’s parks as the best urban park system in the United States every year since 2013.


Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada
The central hub of downtown, Yonge-Dundas Square is located directly across from the Toronto Eaton Centre and aims to attract both tourists and residents alike to celebrate Toronto. The square hosts community celebrations, theatrical events, promotions, and concerts.
First opened in 2002, Yonge-Dundas Square was created to bring more life and energy to the city. The unique urban space boasts granite surfaces, a raised stage, a half-price theatre ticket booth and 22 computer-programmed fountains that emerge from the surface of the square. The square accommodates events, displays and concerts of various sizes, including very large events that close part of Yonge Street. During the summer months, the Square hosts free weekday concerts, evening movie.
When not used for special events, the square becomes an urban plaza, an open space for the public to enjoy. Weather-permitting, the fountains will be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Buskers entertain on the square while visitors enjoy the café style seating.