Italian cypress or Mediterranean cypress, native to Asia and Southern Europe, is a tall and slender tree that can grow to a height of 80 feet and 8 feet wide. Once this tree is established, it requires less care, occasional maintenance, and protection from harsh winter conditions. Although it doesn’t require regular pruning, occasional pruning is needed to prepare it for the winter making it stronger to face the natural elements.
Here are 9 easy tips to plant and care for your Italian cypress tree:
Choose a Location
Italian cypress tree requires full sun and well-drained soil and grows well in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 8 to 10. Don’t plant the tree where it can interfere with power lines, driveways, or sideways.
Dig a Hole
Using a shovel, dig a large planting hole to fit the root ball of the cypress tree that extends several feet in all the directions. Put organic materials into the hole to increase drainage in the soil that helps the roots.
Place the Tree into the Hole
Put the Italian cypress tree into the hole and fill it back with the soil using a shovel or spade. Press the soil firmly around the base of the tree’s trunk.
Water the soil around the tree deeply with a garden hose. You need to water the tree regularly for the first growing season and then to once or twice a month. Once established, this tree is drought tolerant.
After first planting, mulch with 2-3 inches of organic materials to retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds that take away water and other nutrients from the tree. Once the tree is established, mulch is not required, as it prefers dry soil.
Watch Out for Mites and Insects
Keep an eye on red tiny insects and spider mites that can cause foliage damage and can even kill the tree. You can use fungicides or other chemicals to completely control and kill the disease.
Use Flat Top Pruning Method
Trim the top of the Italian cypress tree with a pair of hedge clippers to control its height. This flat top pruning is helpful if the tree is near the corner of the house.
Prune Drooping Limbs
Check for any drooping limps during the spring and prune them. Use pruning shears to cut the joints where drooping limbs connect to strong branches. Take proper steps to protect the tree from water damage and prevent any future problems.
Prune Infected Limbs
Prune away any infected limbs to prevent the disease from spreading to other healthy parts of the tree. Italian cypress tree is susceptible to Seiridium canker that can severely infect the limbs.
Follow the above tips to care for your Italian cypress tree and keep it healthy!
An Italian cypress tree is evergreen and its tall and slender appearance can add height to any landscape without taking much space. It generally grows in a narrow, columnar fashion and its length shoots up to 3 feet a year. Italian cypress requires full sun and well-draining soils, it doesn’t require much maintenance or regular pruning though there are times when pruning is necessary. This will help prepare your Italian cypress tree against strong natural elements.


This bachelor’s thesis was written in 2020, the year in which many trips were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In exchange, there was more time for exploring the surrounding area – a fact that inspired the workpiece and this bachelor’s thesis.
The author’s aim was to examine how to design a map created for a specific region and to animate the locals to rediscover their nearby environment from a different angle. The author included the local population in the process of creating the map. Cultural probes, a focus group, and a questionnaire went into the final design. Different cartographic and visual approaches were evaluated. Special emphasis was laid on selecting the displayed section on the map, illustrating vegetation and single objects as well as incorporating narrative components. The result is a map which intertwines local stories with the landscape and invites the local population to a physical and emotional journey of discovery within their home region.


Insect and Disease Treatment
You have invested a lot of time and money into your landscape and a substantial part of that investment is in your trees and shrubs. Like your lawn, most trees and shrubs need proper care in order to thrive. We offer several different treatments to keep your trees and shrubs healthy and green all summer long. We offer both systemic and foliar treatments for damaging insects to keep them at bay. Pests can defoliate, kill, or make trees drip unsightly and messy sap and honeydew. Tree disease and fungal problems can also be an issue in our area and at times difficult to diagnose. Let us help you figure out what the problem is and provide a correct control solution. If you have one or any of these problems, or you just want to prevent problems, call us and we will design a Tree and Shrub Care treatment that works for you.
Tree and Shrub Deep Root Fertilization
Deep root fertilization is critical to feed your trees and shrubs the nutrients they need to keep that green color all summer long and improve their overall health. This also speeds up the establishment, development, and rate of growth on newly planted and young trees. Not only does it feed them in a superior way but it also provides some aerification for the soil decreasing compaction and letting the roots develop better. This should be done on a yearly basis to keep them healthy and looking their best all year long. A systemic insect control product can also be combined with this treatment to control unwanted pests and help protect the trees.


What was to be a temporary feature, the Mahon skate park will now be a permanent structure in the City of North Vancouver park.
City of North Vancouver commenced construction of Mahon skate park last week (June 13), as the municipal government confirmed that what was to be a temporary stopgap will now be a permanent feature in the park.
Council expects the skate park to be fully completed this summer, after a workshop with skateboard community members in May was held to talk about its design. Feedback from the workshop and an online survey were taken into consideration in the final layout and features.
Mahon Park was chosen as a suitable location for a temporary skate park after the Lonsdale Skatepark was closed on March 28 to facilitate the construction of the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre.
As part of the new rec centre build, a new skate park is to be completed by 2025; however, during construction there would have been no skate park within city boundaries.
Outcry among the skateboarding community and city families who used to frequent the park forced council to apologize to the skateboarding community for lack of communication and the impact the scheduled closure had on the community.
The Mahon skate park, on the west side of Mahon Park, will have features and space for skaters of all abilities in a street-focused design, and includes a massive granite ledge, granite benches and barriers from local Vancouver skate company, RDS (Red Dragon). @thereddragons
The park, which is being constructed in an L-shape format, will also have a quarter pipe, a long flat rail, and a hip with gap on the west side. On its north side, the park will have the barrier wall, a manny pad, a fire hydrant and a kicker to ledge, among other features.
Charlie Carey is the North Shore News's Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
Interested in getting a Granite Bench donated and delivered to your local public skatepark? Click the link: RDS GRANITE BENCH PROGRAM


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Set on a tight bend in the river, the Brisbane City Botanical Gardens offer a soothing respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, a peaceful place to while away an hour or two before you return to Gabba Central Apartments for more rest and rejuvenation. As the Brisbane’s original botanic gardens, there are many attractions for green thumbs to peruse over, as well as some for those not particularly concerned with the latin names of the 23 different species featured in the Bamboo Garden.
For children, there is an all abilities playground, designed to wear out little legs and stimulate inquiring minds. For the fitness obsessed (or just mildly interested) amongst us, the Riverwalk sits at the downstream end of the gardens, providing a brand new two-way separated cyclist and pedestrian pathway running from the gardens and along the river over the water. And for those with more cultural pursuits in mind, from heavy metal bands to symphony orchestras and everything in between, the Riverstage is a spectacular setting for concerts under the stars.
But for those just needing a little time to gather their thoughts, the Weeping Fig Avenue is the perfect place for a romantic stroll, the Ornamental Ponds are soothing and surrounded with green foliage while a number of fountains and sculptures are peppered throughout. Perhaps grab a little lunch from Queen St Mall and make your way down to one of the expansive lawns for a quiet bite… The Gardens are ideal for feeding the senses with natural surrounds in the city.


A rainscreen uses an exterior surface – a cladding layer – to break the force of sideways, wind-driven water movement. Behind the cladding is a weather-resistant barrier layer, working to repel any stray drops. The visible wall surface is ventilated to create a capillary break and to allow drainage and evaporation.
A rainscreen is an exterior wall detail where the visible wall surface stands off from the moisture-resistant surface of an air barrier applied to the sheathing to create a capillary break and to allow drainage and evaporation. The rainscreen is the siding itself but the term rainscreen implies a system of building.


The most visible damage at the park was a tree that went down near Broad Street and Rutledge Avenue. File photo
The Charleston Parks Conservancy surveyed the city parks after Hurricane Matthew this month and reported little damage.
While the storm surge from the hurricane flooded the lake at Colonial Lake, the thousands of plants set out in spring and early summer had time to establish their root systems and were not washed away. The flooding by seawater may have affected some plants, but as the parks dry out, the Conservancy horticulturalists will evaluate the plants' survival rate.
"We will monitor the plants and see what comes through," Charleston Parks Conservancy Director of Programs Jim Martin said. "We are learning from Colonial Lake -- whether it's from a hurricane or a three-month heat wave. In many ways, this is positive because we can learn about the plants and how they react, and then we can share that information with the public as part of our educational mission."
The $5.9 million renovation, completed this summer, added a water control structure to Colonial Lake that functioned as designed. It directed water from the park to the lake and out to the river during and after the flooding. The most visible damage at the park was a tree that went down near Broad Street and Rutledge Avenue.
"This is all just a natural part of living in the Lowcountry," Conservancy Executive Director Harry Lesesne said. "Tropical storms, hurricanes, heat waves -- these all happen here in Charleston and impact our parks. We simply embrace it as a part of nature, and we know that our parks and our plants are resilient and will respond."


Transform your home and garden into something beautiful with our help. Check out our tips on finding the perfect patio furniture, pergolas and outdoor lighting. Accessorize your porch or patio with a huge selection of outdoor items.
Spend a lot of time in the garden? Complete your lawn and garden décor by choosing garden arbors, garden trellises and custom doormats to liven up borders and entryways. Keep your yard orderly with garden bed edging and flower bed edging made out of stones, bricks or wood. Transform your garden with our patio furniture, garden decor and garden lighting products and garden decor ideas.


Skye Property Group is a Europe based property owner and developer, that invests in and manages the development of a growing property portfolio in locations across Europe. Our projects range from innovative urban residential developments to environmentally sustainable coastal communities, the transformation of heritage sites and construction of large retail/commercial complexes.
We specialise in the development of master planned communities. The master plan concept involves a comprehensive approach to building a community, considering the broad use of the land to ensure there is the right mix of housing, the necessary supporting infrastructure, access to green spaces as well as places for residents to work, shop and relax. We have has a strong track record of delivering attractive, well-designed developments that enhance the value of the surrounding area and reflect the needs of the community.
Our team of highly-skilled development managers work with teams of professionals providing expertise in architecture, landscape, environmental sustainability and urban design to create contemporary, diverse and thriving residential communities.


Speaker: Esther Feldman
Affiliation: Community Conservation Solutions
This seminar has been rescheduled to Feb. 22.
UCLA Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
C&EE 200 Section 2 Seminar
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Green Solutions: Transforming Stormwater into Water Supplies and Reducing Greenhouse Gases with Nature-Based Solutions
President, Community Conservation Solutions
Community Conservation Solutions’ (CCS) innovative Green Solutions integrates data into an interactive web tool to help decision-makers:
- Prioritize stormwater/dry weather runoff capture projects on public lands
- Convert public lands to “smart” parks, habitat and open space
- Naturally capture, clean and store runoff for re-use
- Create new green open space in disadvantaged communities
- Restore native habitat
- Transform runoff into usable water
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
CCS’ metrics-driven Green Solutions tool provides a strategic decision-making tool showing where to implement runoff capture projects to maximize water supply, water quality, habitat, greenhouse gas reduction and community benefits. CCS’ Green Solutions provides a quantified, science-based digital tool that shows how to use lands already in public ownership to build green networks of “smart” parks, habitat and open space to naturally capture, clean and store stormwater and dry weather runoff, transforming it into usable water while creating green open space in disadvantaged communities.
In the Upper L.A. River Watershed, the Green Solutions tool prioritized 453 potential stormwater and dry weather runoff projects on existing public lands for implementation, focusing on diverting and re-use runoff from nearby stormdrains. All project sites are within 500’ to 1,500’ of a large stormdrain or channel, ensuring a continuous supply of runoff.
The Green Solutions overturns long-held, conventional assumptions about the perceived limitations on the use of soils and plants in capturing and cleaning runoff, and demonstrates a practical way to address runoff on a watershed scale. Green Solutions demonstrates a practical, replicable way to transform stormwater and dry weather runoff into sustainable local water supplies, recharging groundwater, creating new natural habitat and green open space in under-served and disadvantaged communities, sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) created by importing water supplies over long distances.
The Green Solutions tool can help public agencies meet requirements of the State’s Regional Water Quality Control Boards and the U.S. Clean Water Act, and addresses urgent water supply, climate change, habitat loss, public health and community quality of life concerns.
CCS created the Green Solutions Project technical tool to help solve a bundle of serious problems facing most communities in California: disconnected water management systems and increasing pressure on limited water supplies; untreated stormwater and dry weather runoff that pollutes our rivers, lakes, bays and ocean waters; climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions; habitat fragmentation; and lack of natural open space in disadvantaged communities. CCS’ Green Solutions methodology is applicable and replicable throughout California, and can be implemented in any area which needs to address stormwater and which wishes to make best use of limited public funding.
Where: 4275 Boelter Hall
When: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Thursday, February 22, 2018
Esther Feldman has helped create over $3 billion in new public funds throughout California and the U.S. to acquire new parks and to improve beaches, rivers, and natural lands. She is the President of Community Conservation Solutions (CCS), which develops practical solutions to conservation problems by integrating science, people and nature. Her successes include creation of the two-square mile Baldwin Hills Park in the heart of urban Los Angeles and purchase of the L.A. Conservation Corps’ Clean and Green center for at-risk youth. In the 1990s, she led the first land acquisitions along the L.A. River in Elysian Valley, helping launch today’s LA River revitalization. She leads the innovative, metrics-driven Green Solutions project to help strategically implement stormwater capture projects to create new water supplies using nature-based solutions. She directed the L.A. River Greenway Trail and Habitat Restoration project in the San Fernando Valley, which created a continuous 3-mile river trail walking loop and set a new precedent for restoring natural ecosystems along the L.A. River.
She has served on the L.A. County Planning Commission, has a B.S. in Soil and Water Science from UC Davis, and is an avid outdoorswoman.
Date(s) - Feb 22, 2018


Views:25 Author:Site Editor Publish Time: 2018-12-25 Origin:Site
When you want to start installing the garden fence, you will find that wood is not the only option. There are more and more low maintenance options, such as our premium vinyl. Our vinyl-fitting fences are not only of good quality, but also make the styles and colors you want, depending on your needs. So, do you have any thoughts on the vinyl picket fence?
The role of picket fences varies with their technological advancement and level of detail. For more rustic houses, cedar or mahogany fences naturally blend in with the local weather to create a beautiful patina that blends into the landscape. White painted wooden fences are more like a stand-off statement, ideal for roses and perennials. But wood is not the only choice for fence materials.
The white vinyl fence is the choice of most people because it is both beautiful and practical, does not block the sun, and does not affect the circulation of air. From the perspective of the entire installation process, all the basic steps are easy except for burrowing. What you should also pay attention to is that many areas have high requirements, so be sure to consult the local authorities before purchasing. From us you can get the height you want.
In general, the vinyl fence is about three feet tall and is located in the front yard. The height limit here is usually set by your city if any fence is allowed. Installing this front yard fence can double your child's play area because they can be safely closed to enjoy the grass space there. This fence also allows pets on your lawn to leave the flower beds. They are excellent problem solutions in corners that protect the lawn from pedestrians and bicycles.
Our classic vinyl fence can dramatically change the look of your yard, adding beauty and warmth to your garden. From simple straights to decorative scalloped tops, you'll find that we have a variety of vinyl picket fence styles to suit your taste. No matter which vinyl fence style you choose, it's basically maintenance-free throughout the entire process, and we can ensure years of durability.
Attach some vinyl fence-style pillars from your local discount chain or home-ware store to the track, as the rails attached to the pillars with brackets may break over time. The best method is to use struts that pass through the rails and struts that are routed to receive the rails without the brackets. This is a very sturdy design that you will spend very often. While vinyl picket fences can add a touch of color to your garden, a fence that lacks a fence may be worse than without a fence. If you buy a vinyl fence that is no longer included with the product, you may find it difficult to find a suitable replacement.
If you want to plant near a vinyl picket fence, you should carefully consider the picket fence. If you can do this from the sidewalk to your fence at least a foot or more, this distance is ideal, you can plant plants near the fence and let them climb on the fence. But the downside to this is that passing pets can cause plant death. Especially when plants grow outside the fence, they are most vulnerable to animal damage. However, if you pay attention to the distance between the plant and the picket fence, and pay attention to the trimming, there is not much problem.
If you have anything to say about the vinyl picket fence, please leave a message and let us know, we look forward to your reply.


Burn It All Down
Located at the heart of the Portland State University Campus are multiple green spaces that act primarily as community gathering respites away from the urban environment. The PSU Oak Savanna is currently the least maintained and most overlooked green space in the area while secretly holding the richest and most impactful history. It is important to readdress the erasing of alive histories by bringing awareness of this space to community members.
This Oak Savanna concept design would re-imagine the space through the addition of a large-scale interpretive historical marker, a native collaboration for an artistic reworking of the current walkway, and a gathering space to honor controlled fire. This project also works to create a visual direction that includes other deliverables for the space including relevant signage, art, patterns, merch, etc. The purpose of this project as a whole is to gain attention and inform the community of why this space exists evidently refocusing the attention on historical stories that were meant to be told and to represent the diverse identities of local native people.
Installation Proposal Zine
Since the purpose of this installation is to uplift native voices that have been historically erased, all work would ideally be commissioned and installed by native people themselves. The art installation piece, Path to the Past, would ask artists to create tile designs with the majority colors being red, orange, and yellow that represent their identity as a native person. The tiles would get placed along the current path in the space to create a diverse collaborative image of the local native community. A secondary plaque at the far end of the savanna would include artistic credits and a brief rationale of the project. A Contemporary Controlled Fire aims to visualize the controlled fires that native people used to take care of traditional oak savannas in a way that is safe for the current space. It also acts as signage and wayfinding as there is currently no installation that describes that space as the PSU Oak Savanna. The full-size version would be completely functional and act as warmth for the houseless communities in the area.
Example Artists Work
A Path To The Past
The tile art and large historical marker intend to both bring attention and energy to the space. This installation would emphasize the native history that the Oak Savanna is meant to honor and add additional native representation through their art. The chosen color theme is meant to represent fire and be eye-catching to passersby. Implementing a more durable pathway material such as tile will create a more accessible way through the space and bring more guests to the signage. By the addition of a community gathering space in the form of a fire pit, the intention is to make the space more inviting and practical overall for the community.


Do I need to water my yard? University Park residents now have a convenient way to definitively answer that question. Sponsored by Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utilities District, the Park Cities are now part of the Water My Yard program. Offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, this free online tool helps you determine how much supplemental water is needed to maintain a healthy lawn year-round. Estimates are based on rainfall, temperature, and the type of irrigation system you use. It only takes a few short steps to begin receiving automated emails or text messages with weekly guidance that is based on weather and soil conditions near your home.
More than 50% of landscape water is wasted due to overwatering, inefficient watering practices, and broken or poorly maintained irrigation systems. Water My Yard will help you determine exactly how much to water, conserving water resources for the future and saving you money right now.


The Architectural Studio PROEKTUS' project - GRAND PARK - laureate of the 2-nd prize at the international festival of architecture, design and landscape, sponsored by the Department of Urban planning Policy of Moscow (GBU MOSSTROYINFORM).
The award ceremony took place on March 21, 2019 in the "House on Brestskaya".
In the Nomination "landscape architecture of urban and public spaces»
The section "PROJECT"
The winner of the 1st PRIZE:
Architectural Bureau "Studio 44" (Russia, St. Petersburg). Project: "the Concept of improvement of pedestrian zones and public spaces in the coastal segment of the southern part of the alluvial territories of the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland, West of Vasilievsky island". The head of the team of authors: Nikita Yaveyn. Project participants: Margarita Fomina, Darina Andreeva, Arthur Soloviev, Anton Yar-Scriabin, Andrey Patrikeev;
Laureate of 2 AWARDS:
Architectural Bureau of PROEKTUS (Russia, Moscow). Project: "Grand Park". Head of the team of authors: mark Safronov. Project participants: Alexandra Volk, Alexander Lap;
Winner of 3 AWARDS:
Architectural Bureau MIRROR GROUP (Russia, Moscow). Project: "Improvement of the embankment of lake Senezh in Solnechnogorsk, Moscow region". Head of the team of authors: Victoria Simakova. Project participants: Alexander Lavrentiev, Anna Dulneva, Igor Lazuchenkov.


The Berkshire Botanical Garden is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and was founded in 1934 on 15 acres of donated land. Its public display gardens are among the oldest in the U.S. and have been expanded over the years in breadth and variety through a series of bequests and major gifts.
The Garden’s original mission was to provide a place of serene beauty for Berkshire residents and visitors and to instruct local gardeners in how to grow plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables in the Berkshires. From its inception, the Garden has also offered a broad variety of educational programs to adults and school children from the surrounding area. The Harvest Festival was first held in 1934 as the Garden’s earliest fundraising event. It has become the Berkshires’ best-known community gathering with annual participation of over 10,000 people.
Originally called the Berkshire Garden Center, the Garden was established in 1934 by a group of local garden clubs and civic associations headed up by the Lenox Garden Club, on a parcel of land owned by Bernhard and Irene Hoffman. Horticulturist Kenneth Simpson of Lenox was hired, and a noteworthy collection of prized daylilies was soon donated by the New York Botanical Garden. Numerous gifts by other botanical gardens followed and in short order the Garden was endorsed by garden clubs all over the county.
In 1936 the Garden was granted its non-profit corporation charter and the Hoffmans subsequently donated most of our fifteen acres and the 1770 farmhouse which is known as the Center House today. The Herb Garden, built in 1937 on a terraced rocky slope designed by landscape architect Edward F. Belches, was planted with varieties of hardy and tender herbs displayed according to use, plant family, and ornamental value. It remains our oldest existing garden area. During the Second World War, a Victory Garden was established to educate families in how to supply vegetables and fruits for the table during this period of rations. Canning, freezing and winter storage classes were also offered. In 1946, the Garden received a National Victory Garden Institute Award in recognition of its “contribution to the national war effort.”
The late 1930s and 1940s were an active and productive time for the BBG. New gardens were designed, planted and maintained and educational programs continued to be developed. This period included the creation of a library, an endowment fund as well as the newsletter, Cuttings, published six times a year. The Garden received international attention by participating in the New York World’s Fair in 1939 where it held an exhibition of Kenneth Simpson’s collection of native trees and an exhibition of photographs of trees by the well-known photographer, Edwin Lincoln.
At the Botanical Gardens was an amazing cafe which served tea and homemade cookies. I had a chance to talk to the owner and wish them well on their new business.


When people think about a park in New York, Central Park usually comes to mind. It is, indeed, the most filmed location in the city.
There are, however, other beautiful parks that have featured in many movies as well. One of them is Riverside Park, by the Hudson River, from spreading from 72nd to 125th Streets.
It has been featured in some movies and TV shows. Perhaps the most famous one is “You’ve Got Mail”, during the final scene of the movie, when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan meet just in front of the 91st Street garden inside the park.
The movie “The Warriors”(1979) was also shot in the Park, even though it is standing for Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.
The Riverside Park tends to be much quieter than other parks in the city and it has a great view of New Jersey.
Source: NYC Parks


5 Tips To Help Your Yard This Summer
No one wants to look out the windows of their home and be greeted by brown patches on your yard or pull into your driveway only to see a dying flower bed. While the summer sun can anyone’s green thumb capabilities, here are some helpful tips to give your plants and grass a chance this summer.
Let it Grow
While the recommended height may vary, depending on what type of grass you have, one of the most common mistakes is to cut your grass too short. The grass will look nice, but it will be a problem once the temperature rises. Grass that is too short may not have the healthy roots
Watering your plants and grass regularly is an important part of keeping things green, too much water can damage your yard. If your ground stays wet for extended periods of time, it can start to develop diseases in the soil. Watering your lawns once or twice a week is a better approach than daily.
Mulch Equals Moisture
Putting mulch into your flower beds can go a long way during the summer. Not only does mulch have an aesthetic appeal to it, it can retain moisture for your plants, which may require more water than your grass.
Consider Native Plants
The best chance for survival with your plants, is to choose plants that thrive in your local area. Choosing plants that thrive in your area over plants that catch your eye can have a reasonable effect on your yard maintenance.
One of the simplest things to do to prepare for the summer weather is to prepare for it as soon as possible. Set up a gardening plan so that you can take care of fertilization, watering, weeding, pest control, and help to keep your garden and lawn looking healthy. This should also help to prevent any problems before they begin.


Laird Landscaping, Inc. is a design/build firm based in Houston , Texas . Owned and operated by a registered landscape architect, we are pleased to offer you the following services: Landscape design / Installation, Drainage, Patio Covers / Arbors, Hardscape i.e. brick pavers, colored-textured concrete etc., Landscape Lighting, Fountains, Fencing, and Irrigation Systems.
Honesty, integrity and attention to detail are the foundations for the referral based business with which we have been blessed from the inception of our business in 1982.
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Loring Way is ideally located in a thriving section of Minneapolis at the south end of downtown. The building is within walking distance to everything from the restaurants, shopping and music on Nicollet Mall to the theatres, clubs and nightlife on Hennepin Avenue and First Avenue North. Downtown is home to a growing residential community of people who appreciate the conveniences of downtown living, including the city’s many arts, cultural, recreational and entertainment options (including outdoor concerts and a weekly Farmer’s Market during the summer to holiday parades during the winter).
Originally designed by Chicago landscape architect Horace Cleveland, Loring Park features a natural landscape that includes a large lake, gardens, walking and biking paths, a playground, a WPA-built wading pool, basketball and tennis courts, and areas for other activities such as horseshoes. It is home to numerous small and large celebrations and events, including the Loring Park Art Festival, the Walker Art Center’s Summer Movies and Music in the Park, and the Twin Cities GLBT Pride Festival. The Berger Fountain sits at the edge of the park facing Loring Way. In 2007, a dog run was installed at the west side of the park adjacent to the Minneapolis Community and Technical College campus. The park is connected to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden by the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge.
Loring Park in the spring Loring Park during a winter snowstorm
Connecting Loring Park to the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis is a public greenway. The area was created as part of the original district design for Loring Park Development that included Loring Way. It includes seating areas and two fountains, one at the mid-point and a second where the greenway meets Nicollet Mall. The greenway serves as a walking and biking path, and a convenient space for pet-owners. Included is a playground that was rebuilt in 2006. The entire greenway was renovated in 2007and 2008 with new paving and plants.
The Greenway, looking towards Loring Park


Sebert is a full-service commercial landscape contractor. As one of the leading commercial contractors in the Midwest, Sebert provides a turnkey approach for your landscaping needs. Sebert is the experienced partner you need for all your landscape needs. We provide the services you need to maintain your landscaping looking its absolute best! Our team has provided our clients with innovative solutions designed to reduce maintenance costs, save resources, and protect the environment. We don’t stop there, Sebert provides reliable Snow Removal during those rough midwestern winter months.
Enhancement services will add beauty beyond the standard maintenance making your property unique and memorable. Whether you are looking to create paved walkways or a rooftop garden, our Construction team will bring your design vision to reality.


In the developing urban area of New Cairo, the students of the green (but surrounded by the desert) American International School decided, in November 2014, to get together and start approaching the idea of a Slow Food garden where they could grow their own food and herbs and start recycling while also enjoying their shared outdoor gardening time.
They were guided and trained on basic gardening knowledge and tips to start planning and designing the garden itself, starting from the decision of what they want the garden to be.
They finally decided to first build up an “herb spiral” where they grow local herbs and medicinal plants, with some flowers interspersed. “The Herb Spiral is a highly productive and energy efficient, vertical garden design. It allows you to stack plants to maximize space – a practical and attractive solution for urban gardeners. It is typically 1.5 – 2m wide in diameter at the base, ascending to 1.0 – 1.3m, with the center of the spiral at the highest point. The spiral ramp provides a planting area large enough to accommodate all your common culinary herbs.” (from: http://themicrogardener.com/15-benefits-of-a-herb-spiral-in-your-garden/)
The students also drew up plans for a “keyhole garden” and other growing containers to be implemented in the future. “Keyhole gardens hold moisture and nutrients due to an active compost pile placed in the center of a round bed. Although most helpful in hot and dry locations, a keyhole garden will improve growing conditions in just about any climate.
From a bird’s eye view the garden is shaped as a keyhole. A notch is cut into a round garden bed, the notch makes for easy access to the center compost well.” (From: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/keyhole-gardens.html)
While working on the soil, students discovered the pleasure and how fun it can be to spend some quality time in the garden. Tools were provided and now fruit trees (lemon, mango, banana, guava), herbs (rosemary, oregano, sage, basil, mint, chamomile) and various vegetables grow in the garden. The students and teachers are also drawing up a program to offer the school a “green” subject where they can approach nutritional and environmental topics.
In the kitchen, they started recycling the daily scraps to use in the garden for composting.
The garden’s produce is also used to prepare real local Egyptian recipes, such as “bamya”, Egyptian okra stew, which is typically served with lamb or beef, or even without the meat for a vegetarian variation.


Donnan.com – Landscape Services And Information
If you want to learn how to properly care for your lawn and landscape, and increase the value of your real state by improving its appearance, you should visit Donnan.com, a guide for professional landscape services and extensive home landscaping information.
This website attracts gardening enthusiasts by providing extensive information about lawn improvement, tree and shrub trimming, improving your soil, and landscape maintenance such as pruning, fertilization, and planting. They are always adding and posting new articles so you can stop back for updates, new photos, and fresh landscaping information. You can explore the website by browsing the categories located at the left and right hand side of the homepage. These categories are: Index, Landscaping, Lawns, Donnan Landscape Services, More of their Services, Landscape Beds, Pro Sports, Shrubs, Trees, Plant Photos, Garden Problems, and Hardscape. At the homepage you will also find a garden blog and gardening news, green topics, and Pennsylvania news.


Improve Your Lawn And Garden With These Landscaping ConceptsThe look of your home is what shows passersby what type of people live there. If http://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/gardens/diarmuid-gavin-on-how-to-transform-your-garden-from-scratch-35124644.html see dead grass and poorly maintained shrubbery, people will look down on your family. The key is to maintain and improve your landscaping, and this article will help you to do just that.
A great landscaping tip that anyone and everyone should implement is to sketch out what they would like their landscaping to look like before starting out on any work. Making a detailed sketch will give you something to refer to while you work and it will also give you an idea of what your project will look like upon completion.
If you are thinking about doing some landscaping at your home, remember to use all available spaces in your design. Your landscaping should be three dimensional, and not just limited to the ground. Use the walls of your home, trellises, arbors, and anything else you can think of to add depth and dimension to your landscaping.
Purchase what you need in different stages. It can be very expensive to buy everything at one time. Think about your project, and separate it into several steps. Buy what you need for one step at a time. This will keep you from going into credit debt, allow you to evaluate your project as you go, and help you make changes as necessary.
Before embarking on your project, make a list that includes everything you need. You don't want to get started on your landscape project and then have to stop to go back to the store for something you have forgotten.
To get the most bang for your buck when purchasing plants for landscaping, look for pretty perennials. These varieties come back year after year, making them ideal for a low-maintenance landscape design. Irises, day lilies, tulips, pink dianthus, phlox and wild buckwheat are all great examples of flowering perennials that you can enjoy for multiple seasons.
If you are tired of seeing your beloved plants trampled by visitors, consider adding a footpath. Use brick, stone or wood to create a path that extends well beyond the boundaries of the area you wish to protect. A well-defined, wide path makes it clear which areas are safe as well as, which should not be trodden upon.
Go beyond simply searching for your products online and in catalogs. Botanical centers or arboretums sometimes sell plants, and there may even be people in your neighborhood who are interested in swapping perennials. Your city might be giving away free mulch or there could be a construction site that is looking for individuals to haul away bricks or stone.
When planning a landscaping project for your house, be sure to look out for the products that will have a very little impact if they are of high or low quality. Use this opportunity to save a little bit of money and use it toward items that will be worth your while to spend more money on.
For flowers, or garden beds that you add to your landscape, go for a narrow approach. You will need to weed, and maintain these beds throughout the year. A thinner bed is easier to reach across, and requires less moving around. Remember, to keep them wide enough to prevent plants from overgrowing the boundaries of the bed too quickly.
Don't be afraid of the unusual or unique when it comes to plants to use in your landscaping. Plants that are 'not the norm' can give a sense of variety and even drama to a garden. They should be used sporadically to give a flair to certain areas. Be careful, though, to read the requirements for each plant to make sure they are getting enough light and water to survive!
If you have something that is unsightly on your property, remember that landscaping can be a great way to hide it. You can hide your garbage cans with tall hedges, or a telephone pole with a large tree. Take any eyesores into consideration when you are planning out your landscaping project, then work to plant things that make those areas more attractive.
When planning your yard, think about maintenance. If you do not have the time to trim your plants regularly, transfer them or put them inside for the winter, choose low-maintenance plants. If you have plenty of time to take care of your yard and really enjoy it, do not hesitate to select more delicate plants.
A great thing to keep in mind when planning a landscape design is to select sufficient plants and features to ensure year-round visual appeal. By making certain that your outdoor space will have something flourishing or providing structural interest during every single season, you can create a design that will never disappoint the eye.
Use paint to your advantage when designing your landscape. From patio furniture to statues, fountains, birdhouses and even painted rocks, a fresh coat of paint in a bright shade can really brighten up individual elements in your yard. Coordinate paint colors with your favorite blossoms for a cohesive look that pops.
For big landscaping projects that will not break the bank, consider delaying your major plant purchases until mid-July. During this time, many lawn and garden centers offer significant markdowns on shrubs, trees and flowers. Do not worry if the plants do not appear quite as robust as they may have in the spring; most will survive the fall and winter months, then bloom in the spring.
When thinking about your new landscape design, you have to consider the amount of available sunlight, and pick the proper plants for this exposure. If you do not do this, you plants will either wither because they receive too much sun, or they will just remain stagnant or die because they do not receive enough.
As the article pointed out, there are definitely some simple things that you can do around your home without needing to be an expert landscaper. By using the tips that were mentioned, in order to transform your home, you will become the talk of the neighborhood, because before too long, your home will have the curb appeal that everyone loves.


Here is a piece of great news for investors and for those who are looking for a great area with fabulous amenities land. Improprieties offering top new projects in the heart of UAE, Dubai.
Golf Greens by Damac
Discover a golfer’s paradise at Golf Greens by Damac, where lush green landscapes meet the elegance of modern living. Nestled in the heart of luxury, this residential haven seamlessly blends the thrill of golf with the comfort of home. Imagine waking up to breathtaking views of meticulously manicured greens, creating a serene atmosphere that invites you to embrace the beauty of both nature and leisure. Golf Greens by Damac is not just a residence; it’s a lifestyle tailored for those who appreciate the perfect balance between luxury and love for the game.
Camelia by Damac
Step into the embrace of luxury living at Camelia by Damac, where sophistication meets comfort in every detail. Designed to be a sanctuary of elegance, the top new project of Dubai Camelia offers a haven for those seeking a refined lifestyle. Picture yourself in a place where stylish architecture meets lush surroundings, creating a tranquil environment to call home. With a commitment to quality and craftsmanship, Camelia by Damac stands as a testament to the art of fine living, where every moment is an opportunity to indulge in the pleasures of life.
Golf Views by Samana
Escape to the extraordinary at Golf Views by Samana, a residential masterpiece that brings together panoramic views and contemporary living. Nestled within a golf-centric community, this development offers a unique blend of tranquility and modernity. Imagine waking up to the mesmerizing vistas of the golf course, where every sunrise paints a picture of serenity. Golf Views by Samana is not just a home. it’s an invitation to savor life’s finest moments amidst a backdrop of natural beauty and leisurely pursuits.
Park Greens by Damac
Experience the allure of urban living combined with the tranquility of green spaces at Park Greens by Damac. This residential gem is a testament to the harmony between modernity and nature. where lush parks seamlessly integrate with contemporary architecture. Picture a community where your home is surrounded by verdant landscapes, creating a sense of peace and well-being. Park Greens by Damac is not just an address its one of the top new projects in Dubai. it’s a celebration of green living, inviting residents to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Samana Barari Views – Majan
Indulge in the scenic beauty of Samana Barari Views – Majan, a residential retreat where nature’s charm meets architectural brilliance. This development is a testament to the art of thoughtful design, offering residents a panoramic canvas of Majan’s natural beauty. Imagine living in a place where every window frames a stunning view. Creating a connection between your home and the serene landscape that surrounds it. Samana Barari Views – Majan is not just a residence. it’s an ode to the picturesque wonders that make every moment a masterpiece.


Pruning. We carry out a lot of pruning to help customers maintain their trees in a safe and healthy condition. Pruning will help to promote growth, to maintain the size and shape, or to improve the quality tree. It could include removing dead branches. However improper pruning can lead to trees becoming unsightly, diseased and even dangerous.
Felling trees. We can remove entire trees which are diseased or storm damaged. Typically we will carry out the following:
Crown thinning is the removal of some of the smaller/tertiary branches, usually at the outer crown, to produce a uniform thickness of foliage around evenly spaced branches. A good reason for crown thinning is to allow more light to pass through the tree and reduce wind resistance.
crown lift or crown raising
Crown lifting is the removal of the lowest branches. Crown lifting will allow more light to areas closer to the tree or to enable access under the tree.
Crown reduction will reduce the height and/or spread of foliage bearing branches of a tree. Crown reduction can reduce stress on branches or the whole tree, make the tree more in proportion to its surroundings, or improve the effects of shading and light loss.
Tree removal is the removal of the whole tree, with the exception of the stump, and typically because of disease or storm damage. This can be carried out in open or confined spaces with limited accessibility and minimal impact on the surrounding area.
Stump grinding is the removal of the tree stump and its lateral roots. This will prevent new shoots (suckers) growing and any diseases forming. The area will be level with soil and wood chip.
tree preservation order (TPO)
A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands. As an owner of a tree you are responsible for its maintenance but if it is protected there are guidelines to follow and permission required before any work commences.
hedge cutting and removal
Hedges and hedgerow require maintenance, just like a tree, to keep them in a safe and healthy condition. While regular trimming will keep them aesthetically pleasing!
We also offer grass cutting and fencing services, so please do not hesitate to contact us for your tree and garden care needs.


Commercial and Residential Landscaping
Are you after the best looking property on the block and don’t know where to start? We can help! Labrecque Landscaping and Property Services (LLPS) can construct a design and a blueprint to fit every detail imaginable and make it a reality. We offer free consultations and will contact you as soon as we can.
Give us a call today!
Services we provide include: final grade, repair jobs, decorative rock, commercial decorative mulch, diamond edging, sod, water features, retainer walls, pavers, inspections, …
We get permits and we can landscape any job BIG OR SMALL.
We work with home-builders, home owners or any businesses that needs to have a well maintained property. We also have contractors who will perform all contracting work inside and out. Please feel free to contact us for more information on these services.
TRUST LLPS FOR YOUR FULL RENOVATION
We have the knowledge to make sure the right tree or plants are planted. There are thousands of greenery to choose from, depending on climate zones, colors, sizes and seasonal bloom. Other plants thrive off each other or against each other. Every detail is important. We buy our sod from local suppliers to support local business and make sure the product we use is healthy and will last a long time.
We use good quality products to ensure long term satisfaction. We have multiple suppliers to offer variety and greater selections. Rock and or mulch is a great filler. We also have done projects for commercial properties to ensure their business is the best one on the block. There are several value added services/products that we can offer from ornaments, flowers/trees or stones to create a lasting impression.
We offer curved, straight or tiered retaining walls using various materials of different colors and sizes to make the perfect retaining wall for you. A retaining wall can be used to prevent water damage or perhaps you want another tier on your property to emphasize a featured area.
When purchasing a house, whether or not it's in a new subdivision or an existing home, we can come in and grade the property for future landscaping. We make sure our properties pass inspection. A proper grade and slope will prevent damage to your home and property.
Pavers are meant for borders, walkways, and patios. Pavers come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Paving stone walkways or patios will provide a nice accent to your home.
Instead of a modern deck or poured concrete, consider a patio made out of stone which is sturdy and very durable, just ask the Romans. There is a variety of stones we can use (blocks, slabs, tile stones) with different colors to keep the overall contrast of your patio. Once the stone is laid, we apply polymeric sand to seal the patio.


Decorative garden lights can enhance the beauty of your outdoor space, providing both illumination and aesthetic appeal. There are various types of decorative garden lights available to suit different preferences and styles. Here are some popular decorative garden lights in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
String Lights :String lights can be hung across trees, fences, or pergolas to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. They come in various shapes and sizes, including fairy lights, globe lights, and Edison bulbs.
Solar Path Lights : These lights are designed to line pathways or garden borders. They use solar panels to harness energy from the sun during the day and illuminate pathways at night. They are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Lanterns : Lantern-style lights can be hung from hooks, trees, or placed on tables to add a charming and rustic touch to your garden. They come in various materials such as metal, glass, or even paper
Spotlights : Use spotlights to highlight specific features in your garden, such as statues, plants, or architectural elements. Adjustable spotlights allow you to direct light precisely where you want it.
Garden Stake Lights : These lights are mounted on stakes and can be easily inserted into the ground. They come in various designs and often feature decorative elements like flowers or butterflies.
Fairy Lights : Tiny LED lights on thin copper wires create a magical and enchanting atmosphere. You can wrap them around trees, shrubs, or other structures for a whimsical effect.
Up-Lighting : Place lights at the base of trees, sculptures, or other garden features to cast a gentle upward glow. This technique adds drama and visual interest to your garden.
Rock Lights : Designed to blend seamlessly with your garden, rock lights are often made to resemble natural stones. They can be strategically placed to provide subtle illumination.
Tiki Torches : Create a tropical or beachy vibe with tiki torches. They not only provide light but also add a decorative element to your outdoor space
Color-Changing LED Lights : LED lights that can change colors add a dynamic and playful element to your garden. You can set them to a specific color or let them cycle through a range of hues.
When choosing decorative garden lights, consider factors such as the overall design of your garden, the level of illumination needed, and the power source. Mixing different types of lights can create a layered and visually appealing effect in your outdoor space


Here's a small sample of the kind of design work I have done.
For 12 years I ran my own firm, BuenoLuna Landscape Design, specializing in sustainable residential design. We focused on native and site-appropriate plants, water conservation, edible and pollinator gardens, and maintaining & restoring soil health, along with strong design and functional aesthetics.
Recreation & Communty Design
I also worked for the US Forest Service for 10 years in scenery and recreation management. My specialties were ecological design, visual communication, community outreach and meeting facilitation. I designed graphics to communicate projects to the public, and led community design charettes to integrate stakeholder knowledge and ideas into designs for campgrounds, trails, firebreaks, alternative transportation and land restoration projects.


The Scenic Beauty and Green Spaces of Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells’ architectural diversity and picturesque landscapes continue to enchant residents and visitors alike. The town boasts a blend of architectural styles, from the honey-coloured local sandstone designed by famous architect Decimus Burton to historic red-brick structures from the High Brooms Brickworks era.
As you explore the streets and pathways, you’ll be treated to views of charming homes, lush gardens and scenic vistas across the town’s green spaces. The spectacular Tunbridge Wells Common, covering 75 acres of open green spaces, woodland and avenues with deer is a cherished asset for outdoor activities, from running and cycling to dog walking and horse riding.
Council-owned parks, including The Grove, Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, Calverley Grounds and Dunorlan Park, offer even more opportunities for leisure and relaxation, with amenities ranging from boating and picnicking to outdoor gyms.
Tunbridge Wells may have ranked 87th on the list, but it’s a town that captivates with its culinary diversity, shopping experiences and the natural beauty of its surroundings. For those who call it home, it’s not just a place to live; it’s a place to savour life’s pleasures, whether in the heart of the town or amid its scenic greenery.


If you’re lucky enough to be planning on adding a Sundance Spas hot tub to your backyard, hardscaping may be on your list of things to do to get ready. Hardscaping refers to the “hard” parts of the design, such as concrete, gravel, wood, etc. Plants are sometimes called the “softscape” elements, but it all adds up to a backyard landscape.
Backyard hardscaping can literally mean the spa’s foundation: the patio, deck or other hard surface where your spa will sit. You may not need to do anything but clear the way for the hot tub to be delivered and set up on an existing surface. Or you may want to set up your hot tub on grass or dirt, using a special pad for spas, and avoid special backyard hardscaping. Your Sundance Spas dealer can answer any questions about spa pads, foundations, weight-bearing requirements for decks, etc.
Another piece of the backyard hardscaping to consider is a walkway or path to the hot tub from your house. You may want to add a walkway or a path made from pavers, stones or bricks. Other backyard hardscaping ideas for your Sundance hot tub include gazebos, arbors, walls and trellises. You can pick up backyard design concepts for your hot tub at Backyard Ideas.


- This event has passed.
Green placemaking: biodiversity at the heart of resilient communities
21/04/2022 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
The recently published IPCC report highlights the fundamental need to protect wild places and wildlife to cope with the climate crisis. The government has also set out proposals in the biodiversity net gain consultation to ensure nature and biodiversity gain are at the heart of all new housing developments, to help communities, planners and developers ensure decision-making and design are nature positive. So, how is the housing sector approaching biodiversity net gain? And how are green spaces and wildlife-friendly environments being designed and managed to combat climate change and improve tenant and resident wellbeing?


No matter how carefully you choose the initial site for a tree, the time may come when it needs to be transplanted. Perhaps it has grown larger than anticipated, it isn't thriving in the chosen area, or you have plans to build something in the existing location -- whatever the reason, transplanting trees requires a certain amount of knowledge and expertise in order to be successful. Following are three tree planting essentials that you need to know before you start.
1. Newly Transplanted Trees Have High Water Requirements
Whether you've transplanted a tree straight from the nursery or moved a tree from one part of your property to another, the tree will require more water than trees that have already been established in the landscape. Different types of trees have different watering needs, but in general, you should water your tree once per day for the first two weeks after it's been transplanted and once per week after that for the following year except when the tree is in its dormancy period. Naturally, you should refrain from watering on days when heavy rainfall has occurred. Keep the soil around the tree moist, but don't soak or flood it. After the first full growing season, the root ball of the tree should be developed to the extent where the tree can survive on its own with average summer water.
2. Newly Transplanted Trees May Develop Transplant Shock
Many homeowners erroneously believe that newly transplanted trees have been killed because they begin to droop and wilt. However, some degree of this is perfectly normal -- it's a condition known as transplant shock. It usually occurs because the fine hairs at the very ends of the roots have been destroyed during the transplanting process. You can minimize transplant shock by fertilizing only with root-boosting formulas during the first year, staking young, thin trees to provide them with extra support.
3. Newly Transplanted Trees Thrive Best When the Timing is Right
Transplanted trees have a better chance of survival when the timing is right. Deciduous trees, for instance, should be transplanted before they break dormancy in the spring or in the autumn after their leaves begin to turn. If you're transplanting an evergreen, wait until late summer in order to provide them with ample time to get established in their new location before winter weather conditions arrive on the scene.
For assistance, talk to a professional like Gold Creek Tree Farms, Ltd.


Pollen has begun as sunshine warms our days! Along with the season change, you need to make changes to your lawn maintenance as we welcome Spring. We all want green healthy grass. You can help grow a healthy lawn. The sooner you start the better your lawn will look this Spring.
Fertilize. The local hardware store has a variety of choices of fertilizer. Read the directions and apply to your lawn. Watering after application is important. Be sure to water efficiently to allow the fertilizer to adsorb and activate.
Weeds. If you notice weeds or thatch growing in your lawn, be proactive. Treat the spots with weed killer. Follow directions closely. If you don’t see improvement in a few days, reapply.
Water. As the weather warms up, the watering needs increase. Make appropriate changes to your sprinkler system. It is important to water for long enough to establish deep roots. If you water a short amount of time, shallow roots will form which will ultimately harm your lawn.
Cutting the grass. You may notice that your grass is growing faster. Be sure to raise the setting on the mower. You don’t want to cut it too short. Also, leave the clippings behind. The grass clippings act as a form of fertilizer and layer of protection.
Apply these tips and welcome Spring with a healthy lawn!


This website will provide you with an insight into Crest Nicholson’s development proposals for this key site. The Gloucester Quays development project was originally granted outline planning permission by the Secretary of State in 2006. The permission was renewed again in 2016. The Monk Meadow Phase 2 site forms a key part of the wider development strategy.
The next phase is known as a Reserved Matters planning application. Whilst the outline planning application established the principle of development - the reserved matters application addresses the detail. This will cover everything from the design and layout of the buildings and the materials to be used - to landscaping, footpaths, street lighting and a great deal more besides.
A full application for an additional two dwellings in the south west corner of the site is included in the plans submitted to the Council.
Crest Nicholson has submitted the Reserved Matters planning application to Gloucester City Council. It will be subject to detailed scrutiny by the Council’s planning department and a number of other statutory consultees. This will last for approximately 13 weeks following which, the decision whether or not to grant the detailed permission will be decided by the City Council’s planning committee. Local residents will also be invited to comment on the proposals.
Above: The application site - highlighted in red. The application will only include land within the red-line, not outside it.
This is the proposed layout for the site. It is approximately 4,3ha in size and will deliver a combination of 55 two and three-bedroom houses and 356 one and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 2 to 4 storeys in height in keeping with the scale of development along the canal corridor.
The proposals include areas of open space throughout the development that will enhance the setting of the existing towpath running along the canal and dock edge. The areas of open space total approximately 0.3 ha and include both hard and soft landscaping to complement the built form as well as seating and areas for incidental play which will be a focus for activity and create informal meeting places. The landscaping is a strong feature of the development, with tree planting along Hempsted Lane and dense shrub and hedge planting to provide an attractive setting to the development.
Pedestrians and cyclists are prioritised in the development with roads generally forming shared spaces and pedestrian routes provided throughout the site to ensure the development is well linked with the surrounding area. All streets, parking areas, public spaces and walkways are well overlooked by dwellings to ensure good natural surveillance. All houses and apartments include covered and secure cycle parking facilities.
There will be allocated car-parking spaces for 484 vehicles of which 52 are visitor spaces.
Approval of the planning application by Gloucester City Council would trigger the payment of £720,000 to the County Council by Gloucester Quays LLP to enhance sustainable transport initiatives including public transport, cycle and footpath improvements.
It’s important to note that the submitted plans for the site may change and evolve as the application progresses.
The section drawings and site elevations plan provides an insight into the scale and height of the key buildings and their inter-relationship within the development.
Please use this feedback form to record any comments and views you may have about the development proposals. The feedback we receive will be shared with members of Crest Nicholson's technical team to help guide and inform the design of the site.
Simply click the Send Feedback button when you have completed your comments.
The feedback comments will be recorded verbatim in a Statement of Community Involvement which will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority as part of a future planning application. A unique reference number will be assigned to each comment; any direct personal data in the comment is redacted. Please read our Privacy Notice for further details.
The email, website and Freepost response facilities will be available throughout the statutory consultation period.


After High Court Steps In, IFS Officer Creates Green Cover Out of Dumpyard in Capital City
- Raghav Goyal
- Published on 1 Dec 2021, 5:00 pm IST
- 3 minutes read
- On the Delhi High Court’s directive, Indian Forest Service officer, Vipul Pandey, has successfully converted a 6-acre dumping ground into a lush green area.
- IFS Vipul Pandey, who is the Deputy Conservator of Forest in North Delhi, has planted 4,900 trees in the land till now.
- It took approximately nine months of sustainable efforts to convert the waste-filled land into a green cover.
- Transforming a dumpyard into a dense forest in North Delhi
A six-acre land in North-West Delhi which was being used a dumping ground has now been converted into a lush green area, thanks to the Delhi High Court’s intervention and an IFS officer’s efforts.
The waste-filled land was a bone of contention between two parties, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and a waste management company named Delhi Municipal Solid Waste Solutions Limited. The private organisation moved the court, and the case was heard by Justice Najmi Waziri who is considered to be environment friendly and hears mostly such kinds of cases and also seeks help from the forest department and its officers if required.
The judge ordered the private organisation to complete the plantation process and convert the land into a dense forest. However, the set targets did not match and so the court sought a detailed report of the whole project of plantation and conversion of the dumpyard into a dense forest from the Deputy Conservation of Forest, North Delhi, Mr. Vipul Pandey.
While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Vipul Pandey said, “Our professional inputs were sought by the High Court and we submitted an inspection report in which we suggested various recommendations for establishing a dense forest. 50 percent recommendation from the report were followed and the court seemed satisfied with our inputs.”
The private organisation challenged the matter again. However, the court directed the organisation to speak with the concerned forest department. Hereafter, there was no interference by the company and the forest department under the guidance of IFS officer Vipul Pandey started monitoring the plants which were being planted in the land.
Mr. Pandey said, “Things like the place of plantation, height of the plant, water provided to the plants, grazing of the field, etc. was being monitored by us. Plants were suggested by us as well as the court, and after sustainable efforts of almost nine months, the dumpyard has been converted into a green space which is now not only benefitting the landowners but the people of Delhi too.”
4,900 TREES PLANTED
Around 4,900 trees have been planted in the area which has a survival rate of 90-92 percent. 15-20 percent trees have a height of 6-8 feet, 60 percent trees have a height of 4-5 feet, 20 percent tree have a height of 1-2 feet.
Mr. Pandey said, “Trees are being planted in the area according to the height as an electricity line is passing between the land. Therefore, plants which have more height are not being planted in that specific area. The quality of the soil is also being checked before the plantation.”
The treatment of the plants is also being done in a good manner in which the MSW officials are also lending a helping hand.
END OF THE ARTICLE


Are you thinking beautiful, affordable decorations for your garden?
A landscaping accessories with your finishing touches to your garden to make it more beautiful and personal. After you have worked your soil with mulch, highlighted your hedge and filled the pool with water, it is high time to enrich your landscape. These trimmings will give your garden complementary look.
Starting from watering to furniture and to garden fixtures, you can get a wide variety of outdoor trimmings which can make your landscaping project a success. But make sure you choose ones that are made up of durable materials since they are constantly exposed to harsh conditions. These should also be treated with care for them to last long.
We have throughout several ideas to make your garden more beautiful:
These are wonderful trimmings and easy to install. You can find some tubs have a plug-and-play feature so you don’t need to install. This saves your electricity also. Buy a tub which has high efficient energy management system. These hot tubs will formulate your backyard very attractive.
Set nice chair table
If you want to adore your garden then this is essential. You can sit and relax sometime with your coffee while enjoying the green scenery and calm ambiance your garden gives. You can place them in the terrace where you can gather your family to have tea while showing off your landscape.
You can use trellises and arbors in order to create beautiful borders for your landscape. These are usually made from wood and decorated with flowers or veins to enrich the view. Arbors are the wonderful entrance to your garden.
This is the essential to increase your overall landscape. Set your most elegant plants in planters and have them in dull areas in your yard or garden. Just keep in mind that you have to choose planters that will complement the exterior and interior appearance of your house.
This is a beautiful water structure for your garden and really relaxing to look at. These can be exciting for you and your guests also.
Garden light fixtures will make your landscape unique. Make light up your yard at night time with gorgeous light fixtures. It can improve your security in your house in another way. You can have a safe outdoor space with the help of these light fixtures.
Lastly, I can say if you follow these steps then your garden well-placed landscaping and give your garden that unique and inviting look.


The quick answer is $266 per square metre, just multiply the total length by total height to get your result. This is a very close estimate for a treated pine timber system including agg pipe, posts, labour and materials.
Call 6 Axis on 0404014848 to confirm quote.
The latest and most versatile systems currently on the market in Australia that is price conscious and durable is the concrete sleepers in steel posts, this can be priced at $488 per square metre.
For concrete block locking systems expect to pay $600 per square metre based on easy access and aggregate fill for hollow blocks.
All the above mentioned prices are our prices supplied, installed and delivered rates in and around Sydney Suburbs.
Do you want to maximise your outdoor area?
A retaining wall may be the solution to create an area that is more practical on the feet and easy on the eyes. With a range of materials and styles available, you can turn your backyard or frontyard into a space that suits your lifestyle.
Types of retaining walls
Some of the retaining wall materials you have to choose from include:
- Timber: Treated pine are most typically used. They last between 6 -10 years if installed correctly. We recommend 75mm thick sleepers for heights over 600mm which can drive up the cost marginally.
- Concrete Blocks: with suitable footing that can last the life of the masonry, a correct installation of interlocking blocks for a retaining wall can last 20 years or more. Also ideal for tight access installations.
- Concrete Sleepers: in Galvanised Steel H Posts: One of the most versatile systems currently available which makes for a fast durable installation.
- Natural stone: boulders make great retaining walls. Expect it to be more than a quick weekend project, though, because part of the art of stacking boulders is finding the perfect fit.
The way we work is by removing all the old material (if any) and levelling the ground to suit your desired finish. This will give you a nice clean slate to work with and get the measurements precise.
Your home’s value can be boosted by adding properly built retaining walls or by upgrading or replacing the current retaining walls on your property. The main elements to consider when building a retaining wall are materials and quality of installation. A professionally installed wall will withstand the elements and last for decades. You may be wondering what are the different types of retaining walls? The three main types of retaining walls are concrete, and masonry or stone. The materials you choose will depend on the location of the wall, the aesthetic qualities you prefer, and how long you expect the wall to last.
A retaining wall is used to contain soil and hold it in place in areas where a slope is present. Retaining walls can be used to set off patio and entertainment areas or create paths in residential backyards. Also they can be used to restrain soil in order to form usable roads. Building a retaining wall on your property is no small job, and you want the wall—whether made of concrete, or masonry—to last for as many years as possible. Here are some facts on retaining walls to help you make the best decision for your needs.
Concrete and Masonry Walls
Poured concrete is the strongest and most durable choice for retaining walls. It may also be carved and formed to look like mortared stone depending on your taste. Poured concrete walls are the only type of retaining wall that aren’t built to be battered (leaned back) against the earth, which is useful if you are short on space.
Interlocking concrete blocks are another alternative—and one which is an easy choice for DIYers. Though made from concrete, the blocks usually have a rough face for a quarried look. They are manufactured to easily fit together without the use of mortar. Masonry retaining walls can be built either with or without mortar and will likely need a mason for proper installation. If they are built properly, they will last upwards of forty years.
Choosing Retaining wall materials
When choosing the materials for your new retaining wall, always choose the best quality material you can afford — the better the materials, the longer the wall will last (and the safer it will be as well). Remember that a retaining wall is meant to hold back tons of soil, so be sure to only use top-quality material. If your retaining wall will be more than 1 metre high, you are also obligated to use an engineer and you may also need a permit. Aesthetics will play a big role in your choice of material.
The parts of a Retaining Wall
Each retaining-wall material has its needs in terms of space, labour, and installation expertise. The requirements of each type of retaining wall usually include aggregate, drainage pipe, geotech fabric, protective membrane and then of course the system itself.
Masonry Retaining Walls
For a masonry retaining wall, it’s best to get a professional mason to install the wall. The footing must be placed below the frost line and should be made from rebar reinforced concrete (a steel bar or mesh of steel wires is embedded within the concrete to strengthen it). Weep holes (small holes that help the water to drain water away from the wall) must also be utilised every 1.6metres. Mortar-free walls, however, only need a crushed-stone footing rather than a reinforced-concrete footing. A batter of 60mm per 300mm of wall should be added.
Poured Concrete Retaining Walls
A professional brick layer must construct the Besser block retaining wall and then block filled with Like the masonry wall, the poured concrete wall also needs a reinforced concrete footing and weep holes every 60mm per 300mm. However, poured concrete retaining walls do not need a batter.
Interlocking Concrete Block Retaining Walls
A retaining wall constructed of interlocking concrete blocks requires a simple crushed-stone footing. Heavy-duty mesh anchors every other course against the ground, and it also has a batter of 60mm per 300mm of wall.
SandStone Boulder Retaining Wall
Stunning, grande, elegant, natural and heavy duty – Large Sandstone blocks are also an upcoming trend ideal for solid solutions that can be an abstract feature in your house and can potentially add thousands of dollars in value. Each block is approximately saw cut into 1 metre x 0.6m x 0.6m blocks and placed using an excavator without damaging them to create a wall feature.
When does a Retaining Wall Needs to be Replaced?
Although retaining walls can last for decades, there does come a time when they need to be replaced. If you see any of the following signs, it’s time to start planning a replacement wall as the building material has been compromised;
- Leaning — Usually caused by tree roots, poor drainage, or a failed footing
- Cracking — Small cracks may be filled in, but cracks more than a quarter inch wide and deep and more than 2 feet long are signs of structural damage
- Sagging — Sagging is a sign that the footing has failed at a specific spot. A professional may be able to rebuild the affected section of the wall, but depending on the extent of the failure, the whole wall may need to be replaced
- Bulging — Bulging is a sign of a buildup of water pressure behind the wall, or a lack of anchoring in the case of interlocking blocks. Careful excavation may save the wall, but it may need to be rebuilt.
6 Axis – The Retaining Wall Experts in Sydney…
We pride ourselves on being a few steps ahead of the competition because we take extra precautions to ensure our work is above Australian standards for a longer lasting finished product. Any staff or contractor that works for us has to work to our strict standards, no shortcuts, ever!
Contact 6 Axis when you’re considering any project that involves any building and excavation works including patios, driveways, retaining walls and total landscaping.


At Frederick's Organic Land Care we organically treat Athletic Fields, Parks, Pastures, Commercial Lawns and Residential Lawns. Your field, park or lawn is a living system and like all living systems, unique. To learn about your unique property, we test your soil to see what is missing or broken and we work to fix it. We will set goals that will help your turf be more disease tolerant, require less water, grow deeper roots and retain a dark green color without excessive growth. We only use OMRI Certified Fertilizers and Soil Amendments. Not only is this the healthy way to treat your lawn, it is the safe way for everybody and everything.
On the first visit to your property we will gather the needed information to begin the analysis of your lawn’s health. While walking your entire property, we will assess the soil type, specific problem areas, and type of weeds. Then we will take a soil sample. The soil sample will be sent out to a third party for chemistry analysis. A second soil test will be done by us. We will analyze your soil under a microscope for a biological analysis. The cost of these two tests is a one time fee of $85. The results of these steps will allow us to develop a seasonal treatment plan designed specifically for your property.
The key to lawn care is to understand your lawn’s turf density. When there are bare areas in your lawn Mother Nature will find something to put there - weeds. In addition to healthy soil, we want to achieve maximum turf density that will allow the grass to out compete any weed pressures. Just because we are Organic doesn't mean that we settle for a less than quality lawn.
Most of our seasonal treatment plans consist of two organic fertilizer treatments, one soil amendment and two to three biological applications. If your lawn has less than 75% grass. We recommend a deep core aeration followed by a good thatching and slit seeding. Your lawn’s overall plan will depend on your soil tests and how much turf density it has to start with.
Throughout the season our Accredited Organic Lawn Care Professionals will monitor your lawn to ensure we are meeting our goals, tweaking your plan as needed.


Sihai Park in Shekou
Compared to the most famous park – Nanshan Mountain Park. The Sihai Park or Universal park, is relatively small, with 135710.39 square meters. Stil Sihai Park is the biggest cultural park in Shekou area. Nanshan Sihai Park was built in 1987. The park is clean and well-organized. Half of the park is covered by water. There are two big lakes and two bridges in Sihai park. People used to fish here, but now it is not allowed. The west lake used to be the boating area with paddleboats in the park, but not any more.
The rest of the park are mostly trees, grass and walkways. There are two areas in the park with outdoor exercise and sport equipment. They are well-maintained and in generally good condition. On the west end, there is a big grassland which is good for outdoor activities. A sport area with exercise equipment is just nearby. On the east end, there is a litchi groves where many people dancing, singing, playing Poke; a sport area nearby and a sport area for kids. The parking area is at the west gate of the Sihai Park. There are two toilets in the park, one toilet is near the north gate, the other one is at the west gate. The toilets are clean and well-maintained. Also there is a a giant sculpture worth a vist. It is a flaming bull which is 30 meters high.
Sihai Park Address
No33, Industrial Road 7 (No 6, Guanyuan Road), Shekou, Nanshan.
About 2 kilometers up Gongyuan Road from Shekou Sea World. The nearest subway station is Shuiwan on Shekou Line (also known as Metro Line 2). The metro stop is approximately in 20 to 30 minutes walking distance.
Bus lines：No. 224， 232，b700， B816


Over the last year the face of the Zocalo has been changing continually, not least because they keep putting up temporary exhibitions/ice skating rinks and the like. But they have made one welcome addition – some gardens. Once upon a time, the Zocalo used to have a load of gardens and a tram system – so it would appear from the old photos and paintings I have seen. They have so far put flower beds in one corner of the square, and I swear some new statues and busts too. Unless I am imagining things. I’m sure Cuauhtemoc is a new addition though.


We recently finished up an artificial grass installation tutorial, we found that we had some unfinished business around the periphery of our project. To complete the overall project, we have decided to install a landing pad made out of patio pavers to match an adjoining pool area patio. It is really a very simple process to install pavers if you just follow a few easy steps!
Start By Grading The Surface
Begin by grading the surface area that I will be installing the pavers on. As the picture above shows, on one side I have the artificial grass, on the other side is a gate that leads to the pool area. I would like to have a level landing pad ( area in-which the pavers are laid) so I need to consider a couple of things. First, I need to make sure that there is enough room for the gate to open and close properly without any interference by the pavers. Secondly, how will the pavers line up with the artificial turf so it not only looks good but does not create a tripping hazard. The ground in which I am installing the pavers is pretty high to begin with, it will be necessary to remove some of the soil to get the pavers to fit nicely, both under the gate as well as to line up with the artificial turf.
As I am grading the ground surface area in preparation to lay the pavers, I first need to know the thickness of the paver ( in this case its 1 1/2″) in addition to how much leveling sand I wish to use. ideally, about 1/2″ of sand works very well as a leveling and setting base for the pavers. So, this information, coupled with the desired clearance for the gate, in addition to lining up my pavers with the artificial turf, I am able to adequately determine the amount of soil to remove.
Once I have graded the ground surface to the approximate depth I pour the leveling sand onto the ground surface. Using a level I am able to move the sand around to ensure that I have a level, flat and even surface to begin laying the pavers on. As I begin to lay the pavers I will check the level several times to ensure they remain level.
Install the Pavers
When I begin to lay the pavers I select a place to start (first paver), where I can layout the entirety of the pad so it lines up with the things I want it to line up to. In this case, I begin by installing the first paver so it lines up with the gate post, this ensures a clean look. I set the paver and check it for level, I tap the paver gently into place with the rubber mallet. I continue with the second paver, ensure that it is level and that the edges line up perfectly with the previous paver. I continue this process until I have laid out and leveled all the pavers necessary to cover my project area.
Pour Sand to Fill Cracks Between Pavers
Once all the pavers are in place, I pour a generous amount of white sand over the entirety of the paver project area. I then sweep, back and forth, back and forth numerous times to ensure that the sand falls into and settles in the joints. It is also a good idea to walk around on the pavers several times while sweeping to help the sand settle in, in this way we can be assured that all the movement of the pavers will cease. Fill in and around your paver project area completely and compact firmly to ensure your pavers do not move.
Once you have swept the paver area numerous times and set the boundaries firmly, trim the project with materials of your choice. In this case we used ash river rock and brown bark. Grading appropriately with a rake and shovel to create a smooth transition from the pavers to the surrounding areas.


Historic Gardens of Athens
Athens Historian Volume V (2000)
by John C. Waters
Pleasure gardens have always had a special aura about them, in part because of the original concept of a garden as a special place removed from the hustle and bustle of the world – a Valhalla, a sanctuary – perhaps best exemplified by the Garden of Eden. They also tend to be ephemeral, reflecting the vision of their owners, and all too often that vision does not survive much beyond the owner’s lifetime.
Originally pleasure gardens were a luxury reserved for those with means, both money and available labor, but beginning in the mid-19th century, the idea of residential pleasure gardens was popularized by books written by Andrew Jackson Downing. Thereafter, the practice of creating a pleasure garden was gradually embraced by the nation’s emerging middle class until today when no new home is considered complete until it has been “landscaped.” Pleasure gardens, even today, are highly individualized expressions of design utilizing plant materials that evolve through time, and as such can provide invaluable records of the time period and the people who created them. However, because most gardens are created for the personal enjoyment of their owners rather than the general public, they are rarely very well documented and the insights they might engender are all too often lost to posterity.
Within the Piedmont area of antebellum Georgia, the parterre garden was one of the most popular and distinctive high-style garden forms of the period. Notable examples of this style were recorded at Rose Hill Plantation in Elbert County, the John Thomas Grant House and the Stevens Thomas House (see right) in Athens, and the Kolb-Pou-Newton House in Madison. Of these four gardens, only two survive: one in Madison and one in Athens.
The Athens survivor was constructed as a pleasure garden at the John Thomas Grant house on Prince Avenue. Now the University President’s Home, this house dates from 1857 and is thought by many to be the most elegant Greek Revival house in Georgia. Located between the street and the house, the pleasure garden is enclosed by a decorative wooden fence and has a “a particularly dignified design, carrying heavy plantings of magnolia, cedar of Lebanon, cherry laurel and tree box.”1 Many of the older boxwoods in this garden succumbed to disease in the early 1960s and were replaced about 1965, but the integrity of the original design has been maintained and continues to delight visitors.
In this instance, a personal garden has endured and become a public treasure, in a sense emblematic of the preservation ideal. It was developed a short time after the sale of the University’s first Botanical Garden, which had been founded in 1831, opened in 1833, but lasted only until 1856. That garden was immensely popular with the townspeople, who flocked there, especially on the weekends, to “take the air,” to see and be seen, and to enjoy the horticultural and natural beauty. Due to its financial condition, the University sold the garden for $1000 in 1856, ending a discussion for its abandonment which had been initiated in 1842.2
Despite the financial straits of the University, Athens was prospering in the 1850s and elegant homes were being constructed on spacious grounds along Prince Avenue and on the newly-opened Milledge Avenue. The typical homestead required more land than necessary today, including space for cows, horses, chickens and pigs; a vegetable garden, a well, plus outbuilding such as a detached kitchen (for fire safety), a smokehouse, barn, enclosures for domestic animals, a carriage house, stables, and other attendant structures to support the household. Once these necessities were taken care of, a pleasure garden, surrounded by a decorative fence or hedge, was often constructed.
Documentation of some of Athens’ early gardens was provided in the 1930s when the Peachtree Garden Club of Atlanta spearheaded the publication of a book of Georgia’s early gardens as a means of commemorating the bicentennial of the founding of the colony of Georgia.3 Descriptions of thirteen Athens gardens, both early and modern, were featured prominently in the book published by the club: only one of the early gardens and two contemporary gardens survive today.
The early Athens gardens which did not survive were located at the Camak House, the Bishop Cottage, and the Stevens Thomas place. We know that numerous other historic gardens in Athens did not survive to be listed in the 1930s book, including the boxwood parterre garden that provided a transition between Milledge Avenue and the original Lucy Cobb Institute building.4 Given the scale and opulence of the antebellum houses remaining today, and the popularity of gardens in Athens, it is probable that pleasure gardens would have been found at such locations as the Lehman-Bancroft House, both Howell Cobb houses, Moss-Side, the Treanor House, the Phinizy-Hunnicutt House, the Taylor-Grady House, the Taylor-Lumpkin House, the Franklin- Upson House, the Ware-Lyndon House, the Hamilton-Phinizy House, the Chase-Yancy House, the Sledge-Cobb House as well as those houses that were the homes of Joseph Henry Lumpkin, T.R.R. Cobb, A.P. Dearing, and James Hamilton.
One of the most interesting historic gardens in Athens today is the front garden of the Meeker-Barrow House on Dearing Street. It is believed to have been designed in the 1850s by Prosper J. Berckmans of Augusta, who later established Fruitlands Nursery on the site of what is now the Augusta National Golf Course. It is a mystery why this garden was omitted from the 1930s survey, unless it was not recognized as an early garden.
The modern gardens cited in the book included those at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Hodgson House (now Alpha Delta Pi Sorority), Mrs. E.K. Lumpkin, one of the founders of the first garden club in America (now property of Young Harris Methodist Church); Mrs. R.E. Park; Mrs. Henry Reid; Mr. and Mrs. Lamar C. Rucker; Mr. and Mrs. Bolling Sasnet; and the Misses Upson (now Sun Trust Bank on Prince Avenue); Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Rowland, and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. The two contemporary gardens that still exist today are those planted by Mr. and Mrs. Rowland at “Beech Haven” and a small remnant of plantings at the SAE House, which may have survived from the original pleasure garden developed for Ross Crane at that site.
Since the 1930s, the concept of what is historic and how to evaluate resources in the process of making that determination has changed. Now, resources that are 50 years of age or older and having other aspects of significance are considered to qualify as historic. Thus the gardens considered modern in the 1930s are now historic.
Other Athens gardens that currently qualify as historic include the Founders’ Memorial Garden5 on the University of Georgia campus, developed under the direction of landscape architect Hubert B. Owens in the 1940s and 50s, in what has been described as the Colonial Revival style and usually associated with architecture of the same stylistic name;6 the grounds of Arnocroft on Milledge Avenue, the home given to the Athens Junior League by Eugenia Arnold Blount Friend, which reflect the design conventions of the 1930s.
While not ordinarily considered a garden as such, Oconee Hill Cemetery, an example of the rural Victorian cemetery movement, was based on the concept of a landscaped park in terms of the English theory of the “picturesque,” in which art and nature are combined, and qualifies in that sense as a historic garden. As has been the case in numerous historic cemeteries across America, Oconee Hill Cemetery is now the focus of efforts to retain and restore its historic character as a part of the heritage of Athens.7
In considering the tremendous loss of historic garden resources in Athens since the antebellum period, one must note that with only one exception, the University’s first botanical garden, all of the historic gardens were privately owned. Thus the fate of these early gardens was entirely in the hands of individuals and their survival was dependent upon the degree to which the gardens met the needs and desires of the subsequent property owners and reflected the lifestyles of the times. Economics, land use, and the degree to which later occupants had an interest in gardening obviously were major factors in the survival of early gardens. Consequently, the dearth of information regarding the gardens of antebellum Athens suggests a great opportunity for research by landscape historians. For a city which prides itself as the home of the “Tree that Owns Itself” as well as being the site of America’s first garden club, it is unfortunate that more has not been done to preserve or reconstruct these historic gardens for the study and enjoyment of future generations.
An educator, author and preservation activist, Prof. Waters iscurrently Director of Graduate Studies in Historic Preservation for the University of Georgia’s School of Environmental Design.
1 Marye, Florence. Garden History of Georgia 1733-1933. (Atlanta: Walter W. Brown Publishing Company, 1933; reprint Savannah: Kenneckell Printing Company, 1976), p. 78.
2 Dyer, Thomas G. The University of Georgia: A Bicentennial History, 1785-1985. (Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 1985), p. 81.
3 Garden History of Georgia, pp. 72-80, 147-162.
4 Scott Van Valen. The Landscape of the Lucy Cobb Institute: Its History and Management. (An unpublished Master of Landscape Architecture thesis, University of Georgia, 1993), pp. 37-48.
5 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1972.
6 Hitchcock, Susan Lee. The Colonial Revival Gardens of Hubert Bond Owens. (An unpublished Master of Historic Preservation thesis, University of Georgia, 1977).
7 Oconee Hill Cemetery Study: A Preliminary Appraisal. (An unpublished study by the Preservation Advocacy class, Master of Historic Preservation Program, University of Georgia, Fall 1972.)