Landscape gardening is an integral part of beautifying a garden. Nothing is more pleasing to the eye than a well laid out garden that gives a tranquil feel to it. Planning and executing the plans with good attention to detail are important aspects of the whole design of a well-landscaped garden.
1. Start Doing Meticulous Planning
A landscaped garden does not happen by itself. It requires meticulous planning to ensure that all aspects of the plans are carried out to produce the desired effect. Gardeners who spend time and put in the effort are usually rewarded with a vista that is easy on the eye and gives pleasure to all who use the garden.
2.Assess Your Outer Space
Your first action is to assess your yard, take a notebook with you and draw a rough plan of the existing garden, take note of what plant, shrub, trees are already in the garden, and whether you wish to remove them or leave them in place.
Take note of areas that might need to be shored up, or have a drainage problem that might need attention. Over a few days, observe which areas get sun and shade, and the length of time the sun shines on various spots and take particular note of shady areas that receive very little or no sun at all.
3.Test Your Soil
Take samples of your soil, and if you are not sure of its composition, then ask for expert help from your local garden center, most garden center staff are knowledgeable about soil conditions and the particular problems in the area you reside in. They will also be able to advise you about plants that would be suited to your particular yard situation, so take your notes and soil samples along with you when you visit the garden center.
4. Plan & Implement the Changes
Once you have identified the current condition of the existing yard, then you can start planning on the changes you wish to make. Types of plants, where you want them planted, trees, shrubs, and combinations, together with the lawn area, plus any hardscapes - fountains, gnomes, gazebo, benches, or other similar additions all form part of the hardscapes.
Pathways and types of materials you wish to use for your pathways can also add charm and special looks to the overall effect of the results. Once you have a reasonable idea of what you want to be done to the yard, it then becomes decision time, whether you want to do it yourself or call in a landscape artist to look over your ideas.
You can then get a quote from the landscaper to decide how much you will allow them to do and how much you can do yourself and the relevant costs involved. Planning and executing a revamped garden require a lot of time and energy, if you have what it takes to do it, then, by all means, do it yourself, or as much as you can leaving the difficult parts to the landscaper. Whatever decision you finally take, do get some enjoyment out of creating a beautiful garden.
5. Take Help of Professionals
Since most households are dependent upon two incomes these days, and both spouses are weary from the weight of hectic schedules, help around the home is necessary, so one service that has become immensely popular is a lawn care company.
To think the weekend will be consumed by the chore of mowing the grass, weeding the gardens and raking leaves is not a pleasant thought for many people after a long week and many hours committed to the office.
Many homeowners have concluded that the investment made into a lawn maintenance service is worth the expense because of the time it frees up to be devoted to more enjoyable activities, like relaxation and quality time spent with family and friends on the rare day off.
There are innumerable lawn care services out there ready to tackle the task of fluffing mulch in flower beds and trimming/shaping hedges, in addition to maintaining the lawn. These companies also have contact with tree removal contractors to get rid of unwanted trees and plants.
Most lawn care companies offer services beyond simply mowing the lawn and performing upkeep on the gardens. Spring cleanup is a very popular choice, and it involves:
- Cleanup gardens
- Remove or trim back dead leaves and plants
- Fluff up mulch
- Trim dead and crossing branches on bushes
- Do edging
- Aerate, seed and fertilize the grass
A lawn care company will set up a weekly schedule and dispatch a crew to mow and clean up a home's lawn. The crew will come out and in a mere half-hour or so do what it would take a homeowner an entire afternoon to accomplish.
With regular, weekly service throughout the spring, summer, and fall months, a homeowner can feel confident their yard will look good, and their lawn will be healthy and lush, free of pests that can create dead patches. Regular service also affords a home great curb appeal.


A new attraction based in Al Khawaneej in Dubai has opened its doors and it is free to visit.
Called the Quran Park, the 60-hectares green garden features an Islamic Garden, a glass house where visitors can learn about plants listed in the Holy Quran, and a miracle cave where advanced interactive technology educates visitors of all ages about seven miracles from the Holy Book.
Dubai Municipality posted a video on Instagram showing visitors interacting with the new green space in the emirate that educates about the Holy Quran. The post reads, “Visit the park to discover many of the wonderful meanings & miracles mentioned in the Holy Quran.”
Besides Islamic education facilities, the space also features two dedicated children’s play areas, hi-tech solar panel trees to provide shade to visitors, free Wi-Fi and mobile charging points.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said, “The mission of the Quran Park is to contribute in enhancing the cultural and educational role of Islamic heritage through localisation of the plants mentioned in the Holy Quran and Sunnah and the embodiment of Islamic heritage.”
The new park sound like a perfect family edutainment day out.


open for the Spring 2010 season!
Effective Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, our hours are:
Hours by appointment at other times.
Our Alexandria, VA garden center Is conveniently located
just off Rte. 1 south of Potomac Yard!!! Click for directions.
300 Calvert Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301
We offer an outstanding range of native trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals, including many unavailable elsewhere in the Washington area.
We also offer a carefully chosen selection of well-behaved non-natives, including tropicals hardy enough for Washington winters.
Our innovative approach to landscape design will:
Read our landscaping philosophy
See our 2010 plant list


Other Elements Of Landscape Design Besides Simply PlantsContent by-Faircloth Kenny
Landscaping plays an important role in your home's appearance. It is a simple fact that nothing is more impressive than a home with beautiful, artistic landscaping. Even the most stunning home can be made to look second rate if it is poorly landscaped. This article is filled with tips to improve your home's landscaping.
Using native plants from your area can help to avoid problems in the future. It is easier to take care of native plants since they can thrive with the normal conditions in your area. This makes for a low-maintenance component to your yard. Your local gardening store will have valuable information about native plants you can use.
When planning a landscaping project for your house, be sure that you put your design on paper first. This will help you visualize your concept and ensure that your project is going to work. This is going to help ensure that you do not waste your time and your money with a misguided plan.
When planning a landscaping project for your house, consider breaking your entire project down into much smaller jobs. This is important if you are not able to afford the entire project at one time. Doing so will let you tackle your project bit by bit, and not have your yard look like a mess in the meantime.
It can be quite hard to landscape your entire yard in one project. Segment your project into discrete phases to make it budget-friendly and manageable. That way, you will be able to adapt your design to suit unexpected needs or changes in taste.
If you are using flowers in your landscaping plans, you should use both perennials and annuals. Perennials come in many beautiful options, but annuals ensure that you have color year round. If you live in a winter climate, you could even incorporate beautiful shrubs and flowers that bloom during that season.
Add some paving stones to your landscaping project, to create walkways. This can help to keep people off of your lawn, and it adds beauty to your property. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rz4Ekxt9HVFeDSmdG3U08Ril6WFkH82yTK3fJltzzmA/edit can line the walkways with some native flowers, to increase the beauty, and further enhance the appearance of your entire property.
Add an element of movement to your landscape design to prevent it from feeling too stiff and boring. From tall, swaying ornamental grasses to bright flowers that invite flitting hummingbirds. You have lots of options for making your yard feel alive. Movement adds visual interest, enticing you to spend time in the area that you've worked so hard to create.
As you mow, let some of the grass clippings stay wherever they fell. This saves the need for fertilizing your lawn, as the grass clippings add nutrients when they decompose.
Add some paving stones to your landscaping project, to create walkways. This can help to keep people off of your lawn, and it adds beauty to your property. You can line the walkways with some native flowers, to increase the beauty, and further enhance the appearance of your entire property.
Before buying simply click the next web page , do some research on the plants that you want for your landscape. You can begin your research just by going to a garden center. Try searching for plants that appeal to you and fit your style. Make sure to learn what those chosen plants require to survive so that they don't wither when you plant them.
Do not try to tackle landscaping your whole property all at once. It is fine to have an overall dream plan of what you eventually want your yard to look like. However, it can be overwhelming financially and psychologically to try to take it on all at once. Instead, break the job up into stages, and work on one piece at a time.
When purchasing plants for your yard, be sure you pick ones that are local to your area. This way, you know that your climate is not too harsh on the plants. Also, make sure you know what kind of care is involved for the plants that you choose to purchase.
Think about the water you will require and your climate as you plan your landscaping project. These factors will help you to determine what to plant. For example, if your area has water limitations or restrictions, then you want to choose low maintenance plants that require little watering.
To make your yard stand out, focus on color; it will do wonders for your landscaping. It is relatively inexpensive to pick up several different kinds of plants, including impatiens, petunias and other annuals. You should also buy a few quality perennials and shrubs, as they will help to bring all the smaller plants together.
When landscaping your residence, it is important to consider what type of watering system you desire. It is just as important to have that in place as you implement each part of the landscape. There are many available options including underground watering systems, soaker hoses, sprinklers, and much more.
In order to create a successful landscape design, it is necessary to assess the different zones of sunlight in your yard. By understanding which areas receive full, partial or no sun during the day, you will be able to select the plants most likely to thrive in your specific outdoor space.
As you design, or add to your landscape, make paths wide to allow for wheelbarrows, and other lawn tools. It is important to reduce the amount of traffic on your lawn, especially when larger lawn tools are in use. If you can move the tools easily down a path, you not only save on lawn traffic, you will also make your job easier with the stable surface.
You should now feel a lot more confident in changing your home's landscape and drawing in people to appreciate the beauty of your home. Every home has the potential to look more beautiful than it currently is. So take some time to landscape your home and see how much it can improve for the whole family.


Welcome to the weekend! If there’s one thing I have learned about owning a home with a yard is that it takes a lot of effort to maintain the lawn and shrubs. I definitely underestimated our 0.3 acre lot! For all the new dads out there, don’t be cheap (like me) and spring for a rider-mower. If you live in an area that sees the traditional transition to Fall (equals many, many leaves), a self-propelled mower will make life more difficult. A rider mower is significantly better. With that said, I still have a self-propelled walk behind. But don’t follow my lead! Haha.
Photo by George Tseganis. No, our lawn is not as big as that!


Three main types of natural habitat can be seen in the reserve. These different habitats are to be found side-by-side; sometimes gradually merging together. The presence of water is a constant – it covers more than 75% of the reserve’s surface area.
AREAS OF WATER
Three types of lanscapes
These areas tend to be largely composed of open water. These shallow and very brackish aquatic habitats are characterized by a scattering of low-growing vegetation which has adapted to this environment (‘salicornia’ or salt-tolerant plants), presenting visitors with a very open, somewhat bleak landscape. Here, as in the saltmarshes, there is no escape from the sun and the heat of the summer-time.
This is usually of the ‘saltmarsh’ variety, in other words, shaped by the presence of saltwater. An interlocking series of large basins fringed with vegetation run the entire length of the path.
Some areas of marsh, ponds and other bodies of freshwater are also dotted here and there throughout the reserve, all playing host to their own particular range of fauna andflora.
Natural and artificial
Both deliberately planted (old pine plantations) and naturally-occurring wooded areas cover the entire southern edge of the reserve.
Thepedunculate oak and the grey willow are the most locally widespread species, depending on how moist the soil is. These wooded areas are left to develop naturally rather than being managed in any way. This ensures that this habitat looks natural and unspoilt and is partly responsible for their biodiversity.
On hot days, the trees’ shade helps keep visitors cool as they stroll along the pathways.


Sustaining ecological abundance
Fresh ecospirituality for thought at Prairiewoods
“Prairiewoods was founded with the belief,” begins Nancy Hoffman, FSPA, “that integral ecology and connection with the earth are spiritual necessities.”
And they continue to be the sustaining seeds of ecospirituality at the FSPA-sponsored Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, Iowa, that Sister Nancy has sown herself: first as one of its founding members, and now as coordinator of outdoor land care. Together with Prairiewoods’ Ecospirituality Coordinator Emelia Sautter, Sister Nancy is planting renewed spirituality and ecology with the Backyard Abundance Design Project.
Backyard Abundance is an organization “that teaches ecological skills to enable the creation of beautiful, resilient communities and landscapes that model healthy ecosystems,” Sister Nancy and Emy explain. “Through research, education, demonstration and collaboration,” the nonprofit helps to “cultivate regenerative landscapes that grow food, improve water and soil quality, and provide habitat.” The project serves (literally and figuratively) as food for thought, says Sister Nancy, “in blending the tenets of permaculture design with the cosmic, spiritual principles of interiority, diversity and communion through land care design and practices.”
These fresh elements will build upon and strengthen the spiritual and physical care for community and creation Prairiewoods has always imparted. To enrich the existing landscape that currently features prairie and forest, an orchard and trail system, vegetable and healing gardens, The Garden of Eat’n Project (as they call it) will grow:
Education. “Prairiewoods will be a living classroom, helping staff and visitors understand how humans can live in harmony with nature to create landscapes that help meet learning, nutritional and spiritual needs while improving environmental and social health.” A student intern from a local college is also involved with implementation and education.
Food. “The landscape will yield a variety of desired fruits, vegetables and herbs. Harvesting ease will be considered and incorporated.” Visitors can graze on currants or bush cherries; enjoy oregano. To make edibles more attractive and educational and require less maintenance, visitors and volunteers will be invited to participate in land care and harvest activities.
Function and beauty. “The space will feel like a cohesive and flowing whole, engaging all senses and inviting visitors to play, harvest and linger.”
Habitat emulation. “The landscape will emulate the patterns, processes, principles and properties of one or more healthy habitats like forests, woodlands, thickets, prairie and meadows.”
Environmental benefits and lower maintenance. “The use of existing onsite resources and energy (recreation, food harvesting, leaf litter, rain water, sunlight, wind, animals and insects) will be maximized to reroute energy and waste products, enabling the landscape to better care for itself rather than requiring constant oversight. Mulching, erosion control and fertilizing will be lessened through the use of durable, strategically-placed plants. The role of existing vegetation will be assessed to understand how it contributes to decreasing maintenance.”
Self-empowerment. “Staff will gain the knowledge and experience from the project to design and establish future gardens more independently.”
And with such verdant, vibrant ecology and spirituality Backyard Abundance is flourishing from the project too. “A permaculture landscape is a natural fit for the center’s goals and values, and the staff has been truly amazing—among the most like-minded organizations we’ve had the pleasure to work with,” says Jen Kardos, one of the organization’s directors. “We have grown in our own spiritual path.”
Prairiewoods is offering a variety of educational and hands-on learning classes in its “Joyful Gardening” project series.


Follow in the footsteps of Capability Brown and soak up the atmosphere of his beautifully designed gardens and parkland. You’ll be immersed in the trees and wildlife as you walk, roll or stroll along one of our three routes. You may even spot Coombe Abbey Park’s Kingfishers, Chaffinches or Nuthatches along the way!
On the day we are using the Redwood Grove and The Spinney walk and Heron’s Way routes. A map of Coombe Abbey Walks can be found here.


This is basically the same Earthan Beds I've been building, but it's done in the ground.
Here are some pictures of how I built this water wise garden.
|The hole was dug with a trench for the 4" drain line and a sump pit at the lowest point|
|The pond liner placed with 4" perforated drain line. Notice the filter sleeve on the drain line.|
|Gravel begin spread level|
|This black shade cloth is laid on top of the gravel to keep the soil from washing down into the gravel|
|The soil has been added. This soil mix contains has enough clay that it will wick the moisture up from below|
A thick layer of mulch will be added when I plant. This garden will save rain water, and maintain moisture below the surface without loss to evaporation. There is no need to water this garden other than occasionally maintaining some water in the reservoir tank. The amount of water used will depend upon the type of crop and the heat, but it will not waste a drop.
After I install the large reservoir water tank the pump will be moved out of the sump to the larger tank. It would have been easier to have done it this way from the beginning, but I did not feel that I was up to digging a hole that size right now, and wanted to get this garden planted. Here is a diagram of how it will eventually work.


In the early 1940s architect Robert Hugman pioneered the River Walk’s commercial use by opening his office in basement of the tower of this 1891 landmark designed by James Riely Gordon. Hugman’s lettered sign on the rim of the street level balcony was later replicated in his memory. Once flood protection was assured and the River Walk became commercially viable, owners of such vintage riverside buildings had only to punch doorways in their antique basement walls to make good use of their property, lending a varied sense of antiquity to the River Walk.
Robert Hugman designed several River Walk entries, including this stairway by his office, added to the Commerce Street bridge. The bridge, its concrete sides adorned by the sculptor Pompeo Coppini, was dedicated in 1914 at the time of the dedication of the River Park that preceded the present River Walk. Though the park was landscaped, the concrete walls beside the river gave it the appearance of a utilitarian canal. Hugman had them replaced with native limestone walls with barely perceptible irregular curves that make the river appear to be within a natural channel.


The town of Millinocket, Maine, is developing a design strategy that will help build economic viability and increase quality of life in the community. In a recent 2-day workshop, residents collaborated on improvements and guidelines they would like to see result from the town's design project with the Citizen’s Institute on Rural Design (CIRD).
As a facilitator of the project, the Center helped the town and local nonprofit Our Katahdin write a successful program application to work with CIRD and has been an active participant throughout the project. The project has been a collaborative effort for the Town of Millinocket, which received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host the multi-day design workshop.
The CIRD workshop gathered input from residents via Zoom and in person to inform the creation of a visual rendering of the downtown corridor.
CIRD focuses on rural communities to increase quality of life and economic viability through community workshops and design. The workshop empowers local citizens to have a voice and ensures that local and regional assets are highlighted in the design and that the design has a strong sense of place. CIRD will use input from the workshop to create a “LookBook” that will serve as a design guidebook for future downtown revitalization initiatives.
“The CIRD process helps create cohesion among many projects happening in downtown Millinocket, such as wayfinding, walkability, and plans to attract new residents and visitors to the region,” said Brittany Grutter, Katahdin project manager for the Center. “The overarching design concepts for the downtown corridor tell us what residents want to see. The signage for the wayfinding project can further develop within those parameters.”
The CIRD design process has engaged the community in planning the future of the Magic City. Millinocket will also participate in CIRD’s inaugural peer learning cohort for rural leaders from 23 communities.


How do you transform a bare wall into a profusion of fauna?
It takes 4,644 different plants, 7 irrigation systems for each vegetation "zone," and many helping hands over 1,161 sq. feet to be exact!
Various succulents, ferns, and even small acacia trees helped transform a backyard into a beautiful yard. How do we create the perfect planted potion? By following these steps:
1) Take measurements of light and water exposure to ensure proper placement of plants. (Ferns require share so thus planted along the shaded patio. Succulents require sun so are thus planted on the sun exposed wall).
2) Build custom industrial felt pocket planting system.
3) Use different irrigation systems for various "zones" of vegetation.
4) Add a little love.
Lastly, we carefully select plants with attractive aromas such as chamomile to be planted at the entrance to the property, so that people walking by on the street will be drawn into the space.


STIGA SGM 72 AE is an easy-to-use and lightweight battery-powered multifunction tool.
STIGA SGM 72 AE is an easy-to-use and lightweight battery-powered multifunction tool. SGM 72 AE is equipped with an 8 cm mower blade to complete the finishing of the lawn edge and an 18 cm hedge trimmer blade for the maintenance of domestic hedges, easily interchangeable thanks to its tool-free click-in system. SGM 72 AE becomes even more comfortable for grass cutting operations.
CARTE DI CREDITO
Pagamento in 3 rate senza interessi per ordini superiori a 30 €


Multi-disciplinary, Chicago-based artist James N Murray comes to Dragon’s Eye Recordings with his first release since 2018, AN EMERALD NECKLACE. A story in sonic reflections, these ten tracks serve as an ode to the people and places that give us refuge amidst a propulsive feeling of loneliness, and the moments of ecstasy we stumble upon in the continual search for connection.
The record takes its name from a string of public parks that stretch throughout Boston, wrapping around the ponds and waterways that form the Muddy River. The parks in the Emerald Necklace—designed by landscape architect Frederick Olmsted, who is also responsible for New York City’s Central Park—vary from woodlands to formal gardens, shifting as you travel out from the city center. In the designs for both the Emerald Necklace and Central Park, Olmsted purposefully reserved certain sections of otherwise formal gardens to remain “natural.” These pseudo-nature spaces exist in contrast to the gardens and manicured lawns that surround them, and have served as queer gathering spaces for many generations.
Away from Boston’s city center, reeds grow thick along the riverbanks. During the spring and summer, new stalks appear with warmer temperatures and are trampled and laid down to create paths and small antechambers hidden from public view. Carved out of the reeds, these improvised architectural interventions fill largely with queer-identifying people (and occasionally, those who may betray their trust). Bodies linger and wait, pause and turn back. They stop and lean against trees and fences, shifting their weight from one foot to the other. The flash of a lighter, a cell phone screen, or the glowing end of a cigarette appears out of darkness, the community gardens acting as a buffer to the busy street nearby, filled with people late into the night.
In his own words, Murray offered some insight into the inspiration behind AN EMERALD NECKLACE and the story of the parks from which the record takes its name:
This area sits directly next to my undergraduate art school as well as several nightclubs I would visit during my time there. My choice was often Machine, a split-level venue that’s now demolished. You could get kicked out of the backroom upstairs for barely touching someone. It had a strange dance floor in the basement where men would scowl if you were too flamboyant, as pounding circuit-music reverberated strangely against the low ceilings. The park became the place where I would hang out before the night began and after it was over. I worked my way home through the city using the parks as my passageway.
This album contains a story about this place and this period in my life. It’s about the parks, the clubs and the people I spent my time with. It’s about friendship as much as it is about loneliness, the feeling that comes as the party fades away and the sun starts to rise. That span of time when it can sometimes feel overwhelming to be alone, but simultaneously exhilarating. That knife’s edge between ecstasy and despair. The park provided solace in its paths, both designed and improvised. Shortcuts through bushes. Hidden passages opening onto beautiful gardens.
Here’s to finding friends (again), wherever they might be.


Fish Tail Park, designed by the panorama structure agency Turenscape, is an modern city oasis nestled within the coronary heart of Nanchang Metropolis, China. Aptly named the Floating Forest, this ecologically-conscious park serves as a inexperienced lung for the bustling metropolis, providing a serene and rejuvenating retreat for residents and guests alike. The park’s distinctive design, sustainability options, and seamless integration with the encircling city material make it a shining instance of recent, eco-friendly city planning.
Fish Tail Park Technical Data
The smart man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that incorporates it.
– Dr. Kongjian Yu, founding father of Turenscape
Fish Tail Park Images
A harmonious mix of nature and structure elevates city life in Nanchang Metropolis.
Within the metropolis of Nanchang, inside the Yangtze River flood plain in east-central China, Turenscape remodeled a 126-acre panorama right into a dreamlike floating forest that regulates stormwater, gives habitat for wildlife, presents an array of leisure alternatives, and provides residents a brand new method to join with nature. This has lent a singular id to the New District, catalyzing city improvement within the surrounding space.
Fish Tail Park presents a replicable mannequin of designed city nature for areas with monsoon or variable climates that may tackle the a number of challenges of floods, habitat restoration, and leisure calls for. The challenge is a part of a extra vital effort by the panorama architect to indicate that it’s doable to open up new house in cities, not only for individuals but additionally for nature and for highly effective forces like monsoon storms that drive important pure processes.
Remodel an city dumping floor into an island-jeweled lake
Impressed by the traditional idea of farming atop marshland and by easy cut-and-fill strategies such because the Aztec Chinampas, or floating backyard system, the coal ash dumped on web site was recycled and blended with filth from the fish pond dykes to create quite a few islets.
On the similar time, a lake capable of accommodate two meters (6.5 toes) of the water-level rise was created, offering the capability to catch a complete of 1 million cubic meters of stormwater influx.
Idea and Design
Turenscape envisioned Fish Tail Park as a pure sanctuary that may foster a way of tranquility and well-being whereas addressing the environmental challenges posed by fast urbanization. Drawing inspiration from the fishtail, an emblem of prosperity in Chinese language tradition, the park’s format is characterised by a sequence of interconnected, fan-shaped platforms that appear to drift above the water.
The Floating Forest is comprised of wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands, all fastidiously organized to create a various and flourishing ecosystem. This multi-layered method to landscaping not solely enhances the park’s aesthetic enchantment but additionally serves a purposeful objective, selling biodiversity and water purification.
On the core of Fish Tail Park’s design is a deal with sustainability and environmental preservation. The park’s wetland system performs a vital function on this regard, performing as a pure filtration system for city runoff. This not solely improves water high quality but additionally mitigates the danger of flooding within the surrounding space.
Moreover, native plant species have been strategically integrated all through the park to encourage the expansion of native wildlife. Utilizing permeable supplies and integrating bioswales additional improve the park’s capacity to seize and filter rainwater, lowering the pressure on town’s stormwater infrastructure.
Leisure Facilities and Neighborhood Engagement
Fish Tail Park presents a spread of leisure facilities for guests of all ages. From strolling and biking paths to birdwatching platforms and designated picnic areas, the park gives ample alternatives for residents to attach with nature and interact in out of doors actions.
The Floating Forest additionally serves as an out of doors classroom for environmental training. College teams and different group organizations are invited to take part in workshops and guided excursions, serving to to foster a better understanding of ecology and the significance of sustainable city improvement.
Fish Tail Park, the Floating Forest, is a testomony to the ingenuity and forward-thinking method of Turenscape Architects. The park efficiently integrates ecological sustainability with the calls for of city residing, offering Nanchang Metropolis with a lush, inexperienced oasis the place individuals can escape the hustle and bustle of metropolis life. As city facilities worldwide grapple with the challenges of fast development and environmental degradation, Fish Tail Park stands as a shining instance of what’s doable when structure and nature are harmoniously blended.
Fish Tail Park Plans
Fish Tail Park Picture Gallery
About Turenscape Architects
Turenscape panorama architects focus on designing and planning out of doors areas, strongly emphasizing sustainability, ecological restoration, and harmonious integration of nature and concrete environments. The Turenscape panorama architects collaborate carefully with different consultants in varied fields, together with city design, environmental design, and engineering, to develop holistic options for city areas. Their modern designs prioritize the preservation of pure ecosystems, water administration, and the usage of native plant species, leading to inexperienced areas that promote biodiversity and environmental well being.
- Lead Designer: Kongjian Yu
- Design group: Kongjian Yu, Design Lead
- Panorama Architect: Yu Hongqian, Fang Yuan, Tong Hui, Jia Jianmin, Wang Dezhou, Wang Haixu, Wen Xuanying, Chen Lingxue, Wang Rui, Bang Minghui, Chen Yunying, Zhang Chao, Liu Jiahao, Wang Xiaoming, Zhang Fan, Jiang Jingri
- Engineer: Yu Fumin, Zhang Wei, Chen Rao, Lu Ang, Li Bo, Huang Songtao


With the many living spaces that can be constructed in the garden or as the main house extension, homeowners may be lost for choice on which structure to attach. This article will talk about pergolas, patios, and alfresco. Keep reading.
The ultimate dream for most people is to own a home. However, once this happens, the zeal does not stop there. Once you become a homeowner, you begin to think about many adjustments to add to your house, backyard, or garden. At this point, you want to add value to your home by adding relaxation areas such as patios, gazebos, alfresco, pavilions, pergolas, and many others.
So, what are pergolas, patios, and alfresco? On the surface, these are additional structures, which you can construct either in the garden or as an extension of the main house. Although they are different, they mostly serve a common purpose as a relaxation area.
This article will explain more about these three structures, highlighting their differences, and other related questions. Keep reading for deeper insight.
A pergola is an outdoor structure usually made of metal that could be attached to the house, garden wall, or otherwise standing on its own. It could be rectangular, octagonal, square, hexagonal, or even circular. It has a specialized roofing, which is not covered in its entirety, but it can provide shade.
Today, most people are using pergolas as an outdoor style accessory for patios, decks, and backyards. It can complement your outdoor space, create a focal point, and make a perfect space for entertainment and relaxation. It is a transitional space that adds privacy and shade, while still maintaining openness and a clear view of the sky.
Some benefits of a pergola include:
- If you were to sell your home, a pergola is a poignant asset that could add value in the market.
- A pergola is easy to install even on a DIY project. All you will need is the proper tools and you are set.
- They are perfect for outdoor entertainment and relaxation. You do not have to be confined indoors with your guest.
- A pergola allows you to add accessories such as hanging potted plants from its roof. This will create more beauty and contrast in your outdoor space.
A patio is an outdoor structure meant to expand the usable area of your home into the garden area. It is simply like an additional portion of the house. If you want to build a patio, you simply construct one from the extension of the house without altering with any part of the house. Today, patios offer custom-made space for parties, family gatherings, and relaxation.
Some great benefits of a patio include the following:
- It adds great value to the home, especially if you want to put it on sale; it raises the market price of the home in general.
- Being like an extra outdoor room, the patio makes the home feel more spacious.
- If you want to relax in the outdoor atmosphere, the patio comes in handy, shielding you from harsh weather elements such as rain and the scorching sun.
Alfresco is one of the outdoor structures that you can invest in. However, if you want one, it must be included in the initial plan of the house. It shares the roof with the main house, making it difficult to construct if it wasn’t included in the plan of the house. If anything, then you will have to restructure the entire roofing.
Some benefits of alfresco include the following:
- It offers ample space outdoors to sit for a meal or just for relaxation purposes.
- Given that it has a roof, you will be shielded from such things as rain and heat from the sun.
Comparison between Patio and Alfresco
A patio can be seen to be an outdoor extension of the home, which is attached to the house. You can build it anytime you want because in its construction, no alteration of the house is needed.
An alfresco, on the other hand, extends the home under the same roofing structure. As already said, it has to be part of the initial plan of the house, failure to which you will have to alter the design of the house to construct it.
Both structures are great outdoor entertainment areas.
When narrowing down your choices, you must consider certain factors. For example, if you are building a new house, consider the design so that you can include the alfresco from the beginning. For a patio, you won’t need any initial planning. It is just an extension, which you can add at any time.
Comparison between Patio and Pergola
The major difference between the pergola and patio lies in the purpose. The patio can be used throughout the year, while the pergola is mainly meant for garden aesthetics.
Also, the patio extends from the house, while pergolas are free standing. However, you can still attach a pergola to the wall of your garden or even house, but the idea is that they are meant to stand independently in the garden.
For both structures, you can choose to keep them as open or as enclosed as you wish depending on how much privacy you want.
If you have limited space in your garden, and you still want both of these structures, you can build your pergola right in the patio. The outcome will be a combination of the two, where the patio will house the pergola. However, the patio should be big enough so that it does not look too squeezed after adding the pergola.
Lastly, both are meant for relaxation, and you can just sit there to kill the monotony of the indoor environment.
Comparison between Pergola and Alfresco
Having explained what alfresco and pergola is, the difference is clearly visible. While the pergola can be built at any convenient space in the garden, the alfresco is an outdoor extension that shares the roof with the house.
Secondly, you can build a pergola at any time after completing the construction of your house. In fact, it has nothing to do with the house in terms of construction. Alfresco, on the other hand, has to be built together with the house because it needs to be incorporated in the building plan.
All the same, they both serve a similar purpose, that of outdoor entertainment and relaxation.
Can you fix alfresco to an already completed house?
Alfresco is an extension of the house, sharing the same roof. For this reason, its plan is incorporated in the initial plan of the house. If the house did not have an alfresco in the plan, it might be difficult to fix one because then you would need to renovate the house, especially the roofing system to accommodate the new structure.
What is a porch?
A porch is almost similar to a veranda, the difference being that it is low to the ground and it does not necessarily stretch wide from corner to corner. Mostly, it covers the small area at the entrance of the house.


Insects are solar powered! The more sunlight they get the better they function and the faster they grow. Site plants in sunny positions as butterflies don’t generally explore shady places.
You will need to accept that to get butterflies to breed in your garden you will sometimes have to allow certain plants to get a bit more untidy than you would if you were gardening purely for aesthetic appeal.
Buddlia: The “Butterfly Bush”.
Prune heavily in early spring. If you prune back part of the plant after a few months growth then you will extend the flowering period of the plant.
Marjoram: Cut back dead growth in spring. New growth will come up from the base. Divide the plant when it spreads too far.
Sedum: Treat like Marjoram.
Valerian: Remove dead stems in spring.
Lavender: Cut flower shoots off once all petals have dropped (do so on a dry day). Trim the foliage into a tight ball, ensuring that you do not cut back beyond the existing leaves.
Buddlia, Marjoram, Valerian, Lavender
- Different species flower at different times.
- Early Dutch Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Belgica’ (May-June) (pink/yellow flowers )
- Late Dutch Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ (July-October) (pink/yellow flowers)
- Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica (April-August) (yellow/white flowers)
Allow the bush to flower to attract moths.
Caterpillar Food Plants
- Long Grass
- Holly & Ivy
- Garlic Mustard (Jack by the Hedge) / Lady’s Smock
- Trefoils (Birdsfoot Trefoil & lesser Trefoil)
- Willowherbs / Fuchia


Transition Town Kinsale are taking part in this amazing ambitious project to help plant one million trees around Ireland in one day.
The trees will be planted at the Community Orchard, which is located on the site of Saile Community Sports and Leisure Centre, this Saturday 27th April from 10am. We need the help of the community to make this happen. We will be preparing the ground, clearing and mulching around the existing trees and planting our new trees. Tools will be provided and it will be a fun day for all!
'One Million Trees in One Day is a charity, not-for-profit, cross-border, community and environmental initiative which aims to plant a million young native trees at many different sites across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 24 hours.
We will establish individual trees and woodlands in both rural and urban areas that will grow for many many years and which will provide valuable resources, beneficial ecosystem services and a lasting legacy for future generations.
Planting a million trees in one day is a great challenge. We believe that many hands make light work; the more people joining the huge team that will bring this project to fruition, the easier the job will be. It might rain, it might snow, it could be the hottest day of the yearâ€¦ but weâ€™re going to give it our very best shot'.
We hope to see you there!


An Albatross swimming pool will make a big difference in your life and the lives of your family. It will be the main focal point in your garden and your leisure time will change dramatically, both privately and socially.
What better way to bring positive health care to your family and yourself than through swimming in your own pool, exercising in a most relaxing and stress free way!
By choosing an Albatross Swimming Pool, you will receive free of charge landscaping ideas. We will discuss and plan with you your ideas and our suggestions so that your pool blends perfectly with the style you have in mind and the architectural design of your property. Your ideas and our expertise and advice will create between us the leisure, landscaped swimming complex of your dreams.
Albatross Pools can offer:
Albatross Pools and Spas LTD Britannia Lodge Blind Lane Billericay Essex CM12 9SN
T: 01277 624653 E: firstname.lastname@example.org
T: 01277 624653E: email@example.com


Location: 1 Peterborough Road, Wansford
This is a retrospective planning application for the removal of existing fence and planting of a hedge and the installation of a new 2m close boarded fence and the planting of a hedge. Peterborough City Council have refused this application.
Proposal: Erection of 2-bed bungalow
Site address: Land to the west of 27 Nene Close, Wansford
Proposal: erection of a single storey rear extension – retrospective
Site address: 8 Robinswood, Wansford, PE8 6JQ


Listing Provided Courtesy ofCOLDWELL BANKER DEVONSHIRE Tour
Elegance and luxury define this exquisite brick two-story home featuring artful and spacious design throughout including adjoining 6,270 sqft lot. Expanded covered patios offer fabulous outdoor living and entertaining areas with custom landscape lighting, interesting fountains, mature trees, and beautiful gardens with amazing colors and smells making this feel like an outdoor vacation retreat. A separate studio offers space for the artist, reader or just a quiet place. Inside enjoy endless entertaining options in the very spacious gourmet Chef’s kitchen showcasing slab granite, and upgraded appliances. Four large bedrooms, five baths, three car heated garage, 3,910 sqft above ground and a 1962 sqft, beautifully finished lower level. This meticulously maintained luxury residence is just waiting for you to call it home.
Don't worry! We'll never spam you or sell your details. You can unsubscribe whenever you'd like.
Listing Courtesy ofCOLDWELL BANKER DEVONSHIRE


Introducing Rohdea Japonica
Rohdea Japonica is an incredible evergreen herbaceous perennial plant. This rare genus, native to Japan and China, also commonly known as Sacred Lily are highly prized in Japan. With many known varieties, mostly with all green leaves, some are variegated with white edges on a narrow dark green leaves grow from 12 inches tall and spreads about 20 inches wide. Rohdea is a slow grower and does best in the shade garden.
Plant with Maya’s first featured garden was Tranquility, the first and only garden I know where Rohdea are grown. My initial introduction to this oriental plant was when a friend of mine, Ms. Cornelia B. Holland, a hosta and rohdea grower gifted me with a rohdea seedling few years ago from her Tranquility garden.
Ms. Cornelia’s garden is truly a showcase of many Rohdea species from seedlings to mature plants. Just recently, I started my hands on propagating rohdea cultivars from seeds. Rohdea requires cold seed stratification in order to sprout properly. It is a welcome challenge to learn and cultivate slow growing rohdea from seeds as it takes five years from sowing the seeds to sufficiently large enough size for rohdea to be planted in their permanent positions in the ground. It is best to protect this plant from its first winter and move it outside in the spring or early summer. I will definitely give a regular update on how my rohdea seed propagation is doing so stay tuned! We are also going to provide you more information about Rohdea Japonica types and care tips so come back and check us later on our next episode on Plant with Maya.


AYR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE CENTRE
Current Status: Completed 2010
Creche & Kindergarten Association of Queensland (C&K)
The Ayr Early Childhood Education & Care Centre was one of a series of projects under the Queensland Government’s “Best Start” initiative.
The project involved the refurbishment of a disused pre-school building to accommodate a new 24-place kindergarten. This was in conjunction with a multi-purpose community facility offering a range of services from community-operated crèche groups to childhood counselling and allied health services.
The existing building was a concrete framed, low-set building constructed circa 1950. It contained significant quantities of asbestos. The client brief and budget extended to stripping the building and ancillary structures back to a shell including the proper disposal of all asbestos before the re-fit.
With the site dominated by a grand 100-year-old fig tree, the design strategy sort to maintain the tree as an integral part of the landscape with built elements cradling its gnarly trunk and playgrounds seeking shelter in its shade. The entry walkway arcs a journey from the street to the entrance around its trunk using the tree to shelter visitors from the elements.
Mark Williams Architects worked closely with the builder and an arborist to ensure built incursions into the drip line of the fig tree were detailed. We did everything to ensure it remained a feature of the local environment well into the future.


- Bedrooms: 1
- Bathrooms: 1
- 78 m2
One bedroom apartment for sale in "Santorini Residence" Drymades
The apartment has a gross area of 77.65 m2 and a net area of 67.52 m2
It is located on the ground floor
Organized in a living and cooking area, a bedroom, a bathroom and a balcony
Located on the beach of Drymades, the Drymades Village holiday resort consists of a series of architecturally framed terraced courtyards blending the project into a cohesive village feel.
Following the topography with a height difference of 15 meters, the architecture articulates the ground levels with stepped courtyards bringing an introverted feel, while on the top three floors, the units include extended terraces and balconies, expanding public life on all levels. Typologically the villas are treated by studying the dominant architecture of the location and aiming to find a result different from a resort project where individualization breaks a monotonous design.
The iconic image of the Mediterranean villages will be communicated in the architecture with predetermined elements, such as roofs and facades that make up a catalog for the customization of the villas. Mainly three units of different sizes form the master plan ranging from studio units to large family units.
They can also be joined horizontally and vertically, expanding the possibilities for future owners. In total, six squares are intertwined with each other, forming a large inner courtyard that articulates the private and public spaces through openings in the architecture.
Located at different heights and alternating with each other, they open views of the coast and offer a variety of activities for visitors. The main approach to landscaping is to preserve as much of the existing vegetation as possible.
The landscape changes its composition from a dense forest in the lower part of the plot to an urban square in the higher part. Native species (cypresses and olives) and low-maintenance plants (Bougainvillea, Cacti) make up the selected vegetation.
Selling price 2700 euros/m2
Total 209655 euros


For decades, the University of Utah irrigated its manicured Kentucky bluegrass lawns using culinary water from Salt Lake City. Excess rain and snowmelt runoff was channeled away through storm drains, sometimes adding to erosion or pollution problems downstream. But in recent years, the U’s Plant Operations realized that the campus could save money while keeping the lawns green by capturing the runoff water.
“We asked, ‘What would it take for campus to run all of its operations without using any more water than what naturally falls on campus all year?’ ” says Cory Higgins, director of Plant Operations. The idea grew into a goal of achieving “water neutrality” by 2020: The campus aims to harvest and retain for irrigation the annual average 18 inches of rain and snow that falls on its 600 acres of land.
But there are challenges to becoming water neutral. “For one thing, our water doesn’t come evenly throughout the year,” says Higgins. Winter snowpack and fall and spring rains bring pools of water to campus, but the grounds crews need the water most in the summer and early fall. So Plant Operations staff members explored how big of a storage tank they would need to retain the water for use when the landscape plantings needed it. Historically, the campus had accessed all of its water from onsite wells near Rice-Eccles Stadium that drew from a natural aquifer below campus, says Higgins, so his office decided to tap into that aquifer for irrigation water. “We realized nature provides us with a storage tank in our aquifer,” Higgins says.
Since 2010, the University has installed two of six planned sections of a secondary water system for moving ground water around campus. The U also plans to construct bio swales along the new HPER mall and USTAR interdisciplinary malls to capture the water flowing down from the Health Sciences and Fort Douglas areas, as well as the adjacent buildings and parking lots. Bio swales are gently sloped drainage courses in the landscape that help remove silt and pollutants from surface runoff water. Although the proposed HPER bio swales are currently in need of funding, if completed they would capture about a third of the campus’ water needs.
With the new policy changes, the U will continue to purchase drinking water from Salt Lake City. Non-potable water was used during summer 2011 for irrigating the lower-campus lawns around Presidents Circle. This summer, the non-potable water will be used for most of the grounds westward from Orson Spencer Hall. “The summer after that, we’ll do even more, working our way up, with a plan to get all the way up to the hospitals,” says Higgins. And all new building projects will be designed to help detain water, or slow it down in order to avoid erosion problems downstream.
Eventually, the campus hopes to retain the amount of water that historically fell during 10-year major storm events. Still, as the campus becomes more water wise, Higgins says, his office will monitor how much water the University can legally store. State laws regarding water harvesting allow for directing or storing water as long as it is eventually released back into the drainage system. “Legally, we have to let a certain amount of water run across campus, because historically it did,” says Higgins. “As we push that, at some point, we might be retaining more than our legal limits. But we’ve got a long ways to go.”
Meanwhile, the University is also working to reduce overall water consumption, by installing low-flow toilets and high-efficiency showerheads, and using secondary water to flush toilets in some cases. The campus will also see more xeriscaping around new developments and renovations, with drought-tolerant, native plants.


Just like flowers and grasses, trees can make your property appealing. When compared to grasses and flowers, trees require more maintenance work and more effort. If a homeowner has no knowledge how to maintain trees, he/she needs to take help from a tree service provider. Hiring experts can prove a costly affair, but only experts can offer you outstanding services. One of the main reasons for choosing tree service provider is that he can help maintain the health of the tree. If the weather condition is unstable, even the trees can get diseased. To prevent such occurrences and issues, you may choose a professional service provider. To maintain the health or appearance of the tree, you may take up tree service.
Skilled and knowledgeable service providers
Only a knowledgeable and experienced service provider can diagnose the tree condition at the earliest possible time. Hence, the tree will appear maintained and enhance the value of the property. Professionals can help maintain the tree in a way that it survives for several years. Trees will be maintained efficiently by professionals. Only a professional knows the various needs of the trees.
Proper tree maintenance
Your trees are sure to last for decades with professional tree service provider. When it comes to the maintenance of trees, you need to water them and trim from to time. Professionals will not only perform such basic tasks, but also they can cater to the essential needs of the trees.
With the help of tree service provider, your trees will grow healthily. If your trees need any special treatment, it will be done.…


If you are considering sprinkler installation at your Charlotte home, you probably have several questions you want to be answered. After all, having a sprinkler system installed in your yard is a big decision and you don’t want to move forward before reviewing all of the facts. Here are questions most people ask when considering a sprinkler system and the answers.
After Having a Sprinkler System Installed, Will There be More Water Used?
Not at all. As a matter of fact, a sprinkler system may actually save on water usage. A well-designed sprinkler system applies just the right amount of water to keep your lawn and landscaping looking green and healthy.
You will never again have to move sprinklers and hoses all over your yard and guess as to how much water it needs. And you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn the hose up and running up a high water bill.
Also, sensors can be used to know when it is raining and turn off as water in no longer needed. The sprinklers you have now can’t do that.
Will Automatic Sprinklers Water as Well as By Hand?
Actually, a sprinkler system will do a much more effective job of keeping your lawn lush and green as it will be installed based on your unique landscaping and diverse watering needs. Each of the elements in your yard, including shrubs grass and trees will get the right amount of water.
Will Time Be Saved Having a Sprinkler System Installed?
Consider this: You won’t have to spend a minute dragging a sprinkler head and hoses across your lawn to ensure your garden is getting enough water. The only thing you have to worry about in the summer is getting a sunburn. So live it up and use the extra time to read a book, focus on your tan or drink even more iced beverages.
What are the Components of a Typical Sprinkling System?
There is the control panel, which is the brains of the system. The controller is where you input all of the information like how long to water and when. You have valves that are underground that open and close to release the flow of water and you have sprinklers, which deliver the water to your lawn, garden, and landscaping. Lastly, there are pipes that connect it all together.
How Much Will This Cost?
The price of a system depends on several factors such as the size of your property, the type of landscaping you have and the number of zones needed to ensure your lawn will get plenty of water. If you want more information, give us a call.
Is It Difficult to Operate?
Not at all. Even the most advanced control panels are pretty simple and straightforward.
Most people feel the biggest benefit in having a sprinkler system is the amount of time they save not having to manually water their lawn. There are, after all, far better things to do in the summer months than standing around watering your lawn or garden.


Many people would want their homes and business places to look awesome so that they can attract more people. An individual can consider a variety of ways to make the places look awesome as they can use landscaping services. It will require an individual to find the best company in the market that will provide quality landscaping services so that they can be sure of appreciating the services.
Such companies can be obtained in various ways, including asking some friends for their recommendations. In addition to that, an individual can go online to search for the best company that is known to provide the landscaping services. It will be easy for an individual to get the right company as they will have all the information they need from the different sources.
Some of the benefits that an individual will get from choosing the right company will be the visual benefits. Choosing the best landscaping company will be a guarantee of quality services, which will result in a beautiful lawn or garden. For satisfactory landscaping services, an individual will get a variety of ideas from the best landscaping companies.
It is possible for an individual to get the best landscaping company that is experienced in providing quality looking company. The other advantage of choosing the right landscaping company is environmental advantages. An individual will have a clean environment from such companies as they will have a variety of services that will lead to a clean environment.
Other than the clean environment, the companies will also offer better ideas that will lead t clean air and cool environment that will be satisfactory for most people. The best companies will know the right trees to plant that will be perfect for water filtration as well as reduce noise in the compound. An individual will need to look at the services that the landscaping companies provide if they want to get the advantages.
Some of the best will include more services, which will ensure that an individual gets satisfactory results from a single service provided by the best landscaping company. It is important for an individual to look at the rate at which the different companies will be providing the services. An individual can get some quotations from the different companies which they will compare for an affordable one.
An individual will also need to consider the location as it will be a determinant of quality of service an individual will be getting. An individual can get some routine services from a landscaping company that offers their services within the region.


See the walk around the Long walk, Pavillion and Lily Ponds illuminated. The old wall will also become a breathtaking focal point.See the website for times and prices.
COST: Adult £11.50 per ticket
Child (5-15 years) £8.50 per ticket
WHEN: Thursday 12th of October until Sunday 29th of October, 2017
WHERE: Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4LA
MORE INFO:Click Here


Patio Backyard Crushed Stone Pea Gravel Rock Ideas Designs Pictures Patios On A Budget Limestone Outdoor Patio And Backyard Recognizealeader.club 39 Watched Upadated November 11, 2021.Sep 29, 2020 25 Impressive Stamped Concrete Patio Ideas (With Pictures) 1. DIY Stamped Concrete Patio for Stylish Outdoors. Difficulty Level – Easy. Do you have vacant space near the entry to your garden Consider crushing flat a portion of the region and turning it into a fire pit and eating seating area. You need to frame the space you plan to use.
Crushed Rock Patio Ideas Pictures Crushed rock or stone is a form of gravel often used for walkways and landscape borders, but it can make an efficient and costeffective patio. The sharp, irregular Party Room Ideas Crushed Limestone.
Crushed limestone photo - Newest Crusher, Grinding Mill, Mobile Crusher Plant Patio crushed limestone Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodel and Houzz - Patio crushed limestone design ideas and photos. The largest collection of interior design.
Nov 17, 2010 Patio design with crushed stone is easy, practical and affordable than pavers or poured concrete. It stays confined between borders, and resists sinking below ground. Its shape creates a mosaic effect on your patio surface. Crushed stone is any stone material, including granite, shale or slate that has been reduced to small 1 cubic inch.
Browse 240 Crushed Rock Patio on Houzz. Whether you want inspiration for planning crushed rock patio or are building designer crushed rock patio from scratch, Houzz has 240 pictures from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including C. Johnson Landscape Design Group and susanne o'trimble landscape design.
Browse 268 Crushed Stone Patio on Houzz. Whether you want inspiration for planning crushed stone patio or are building designer crushed stone patio from scratch, Houzz has 268 pictures from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Kasha Paris and Huettl Landscape Architecture.
Amazing crushed stone patio ideas rock garden design delight in outdoor living and create a relaxing atmosphere with extremely innovative I. Patio design with crushed stone is easy understanding rock landscaping ideas. Crushed rock or stone is a form of gravel often used for how to install patio almost any design achievable and changes.
Crushed Granite Rock for Landscaping Home Guides SF . nbsp 0183 32 But with so many types of gravel and crushed stone to choose from it can be tough to know which option to use for your yard Crushed granite is an attractive material that can be used in variety.
Raised Flagstone Patio with Rock Border in Backyard – Flickr. This “Do it Yourself” flagstone patio features sandstone pavers and a natural rock border. The light color of the materials are a perfect match for the navy blue sidings of the house. For designs visit this page to see our gallery of beautiful patio ideas.
12-15-19 Joe Hats Design. Landscaping with river rock can create breathtaking backyards, gardens and patios. We present some of the top river rock landscaping ideas with these 130 photos. All pictured here are landscaping designs that you can actually DIY. River rock stones often called river pebbles or just pebble stones or natural stone pebbles.
River pebbles landscaping ideas Rock patio pictures Small rock gardens pictures River stone garden designs River stone garden path Rock bed landscaping Outdoor rock landscaping ideas Creek rock landscaping ideas Crushed rock pathway landscaping Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Required fields.
Aug 02, 2010 Crushed rocked can be a great resource that adds variety to your landscape. It has not only aesthetic merit, but also comes with some practical advantages, such as good drainage. Retaining Wall. If you have property with land that is uneven, you can add a retaining wall topped with crushed rock to make for flat surface area.
Crushed Stone Patio design ideas and photos to inspire your next home decor project or remodel. Check out Crushed Stone Patio photo galleries full of.
Jul 17, 2017 Crushed rock or stone is a form of gravel often used for walkways and landscape borders, but it can make an efficient and cost-effective patio. The sharp, irregular rocks gradually bind together under compaction to form a stable surface.
Stone Patio Ideas – Summer is here once and for all, so you may try to imagine what new methods can you use in order to make your outdoor space interesting. Usually, the stone patio ideas can come into play here as they can easily replace wooden decks. Let’s face it, a stone patio is a lot interesting and appealing, it makes your backyard area.


Immerse yourself in the true serenity of nature and hillside living at Ventana Hills. You'll be surrounded by majestic oak trees, rolling green hillsides and breathtaking views of the city below. With 70 acres of serene open space and a meandering trail system for walking, biking or jogging, you'll have every opportunity to venture out and connect with nature. Committed to environmentally responsible design, Granville Homes took extra care to preserve the native oak trees and natural terrain of this community. From inception, Ventana Hills has been carefully designed to minimize impact on the surrounding environment that blends in harmony with your lifestyle.


Become a Corporate Sponsor
Klyde Warren Park is a 5.2-acre deck park that creates the a new gathering place in Dallas. On October 27, an urban green space will come to life over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul Streets. Klyde Warren Park will provide connectivity to the city’s flourishing Arts District, bring cultural offerings together, and serve as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy. This project will result in a beautiful, sustainable green space that will have a tremendous impact on the city, helping to enrich the quality of life for urban residents, as well as attract new visitors and encourage commercial and residential growth.
Your tax-deductible contribution is vital to the success of Klyde Warren Park. Corporate sponsorship of the park provides your company, clients, employees and executives with a truly unique and customizable list of benefits, access to special events and high profile recognition. Be part of Klyde Warren Park, a once-in-a-lifetime project that will change the face of Dallas forever! Your support is critical to our success! Let us show you the many ways your company can benefit by joining the park team.
For more information on ways to get involved, please contact:
Celia Barshop, Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation
1909 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Suite 403
Dallas, TX 75201
The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation


About 20% of these are artificial stone, 5% are stone garden products, and 3% are other garden ornaments & water features. A wide . Artificial crushed glass rocks landscaping .. 2015 Top quality lightweight and waterproof artificial rocks.
Mobile rock stone crushing machine,laboratory hammer crusher for sales. Add to Compare .. China Best Price Jaw Stone Crusher Crushing Machinery on Sale.
top artificial rock stone crushing offers 7020 decorative crushed stone products. About 20% of these are cobbles & pebbles, 1% are artificial stone, and 1% are slate. A wide variety.
Smart50 high quality small waste stone crusher machine price stone cracker chinese machines for stone .. Rock Cracker Stone Cracking Plant Sand Cracking Machine Artificial Gravel . China Top Brand Stone Cracker machine Manufacturer.
Building construction equipment chromite crushing line, hard rock crushing . Best quality jaw stone crusher in mining price granite jaw crushing machine.
Artificial Rocks Landscaping, Wholesale Various High Quality Artificial Rocks Landscaping Products from Global Artificial Rocks . landscaping crushed glass rock Best price colored landscaping stone cheap garden pebble stone.
top artificial rock stone crushing offers 31941 stone crusher plant products. About 82% of . 150 180 TPH Rock Crusher Plant , Stone Crusher Plant Prices, Used Stone Crusher.
Lightweight Artificial Stone Tile, Wholesale Various High Quality Lightweight Artificial Stone Tile . castle rock GB TB08 artificial cultural stone lightweight tiles.
150 180 TPH Rock Crusher Plant , Stone Crusher Plant Prices, Used Stone China Top Brand Stone Jaw Impact Cone Crusher Machine Mobile Crushing.
Pigment Of Artificial Stone, Wholesale Various High Quality Pigment Of Artificial Stone Products from Global Pigment Of Artificial Stone . Black galaxy quartz/ Engineered Stone /Counter top/floor tiles with cheap price .. blue green luminous color crushed glow landscaping stone . artificial rock walls of castle stone.
Yonran Best Factory Price Ore Stone Crusher Mobile Crusher Plant For Sale . Yonran Stone Jaw Crusher Mini Rock Crusher For Sale With Good Price . Professional Artificial Sand Making Machine of Quarry Stone Crushing Equipment.
Anti cracking Artificial Stone crystal Quartz slab for counertop project . Top quality Crazy Selling stone cracking factory expanding powder Clay,Stone,Rock Cracking machinecrushing machine Double Roll Crusher On Hot Selling.
Artificial Rocks Waterfall Stone, Wholesale Various High Quality Artificial Rocks Waterfall Stone . Related Searches for artificial rocks waterfall stone: crushed marble stone bush hammered .. Top seller artificial waterfall rocks for decoration.
Glow Stones, Wholesale Various High Quality Glow Stones Products from Global Glow Stones Suppliers . hi vis environmental glow in the dark stone glow sandluminous artificial rock face stone .. Creative decoration best glowing stones glowing pebbles customized Luminous pebbles .. Gravel & Crushed Stone (152).
Clay,Stone,Rock Cracking machinecrushing machine Double Roll Crusher On Hot Selling . HSM CE ISO Best Price Lifetime Warranty cracking machine .. Rock Cracker Stone Cracking Plant Sand Cracking Machine Artificial Gravel.
High Quality Mini Stone Crusher/Mobile Crusher Plant Stone Rock High efficiency best quality wholesale portable diesel crusher/mobile mini stone diesel.
Stone Crusher Wear Parts, Wholesale Various High Quality Stone Crusher Wear . Artificial Stone Manufacturing Line using VSI Crusher wear parts .. High Chromium Stone Impact Rock Crusher Wear Spare Parts Casting Blow Bars flat .. The top supplying countries are China (Mainland), Turkey, and India, which supply.
About 20% of these are artificial stone, 5% are stone garden products, and 3% are other garden ornaments & water features. A wide . Artificial crushed glass rocks landscaping 2015 Top quality lightweight and waterproof artificial rocks.
About 24% of these are cobbles & pebbles, 2% are gravel & crushed stone, and 1% are paving stone. . Mixed natural landscaping colored crushed stone, High quality artificial color sand, Color gravel Size dark blue glass gravel rocks . The top supplying countries are China (Mainland), Egypt, and Mexico, which supply.
top artificial rock stone crushing offers 6645 stone crushing plant price products. . top artificial rock stone crushing Sayaji Rock Granite Limestone Stone Breaker Crusher Crushing Machine Equipment Plant Price . Best Price Mobile Stone Crushing Plant for Gold Mining . Stone crushing machine, stone crushing plant prices, artificial stone crushing production line.
China top quality limestone Aggregate stone crushing plant. Add to Compare . Mobile Rock Crushing Plant/ Aggregate Crusher PlantStone Crushing Plant . aggregate crushing plant,aggregate plant,artificial granite production line.
Landscaping colored crushed stone/pea gravel yellow river pebbles . Top quality cheap transparent green jade rock stone for landscaping and decoration.


*Currently open for applications to participate*
Destination CQ (www.destinationcq.com) Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District has teamed up with Belfast Design Week 2018 to run an urban design challenge for local students and recent graduates with a prize fund of £500 and the chance to see your winning design realised. Destination CQ has a particular interest in the public realm and the spaces between the buildings within Cathedral Quarter; to make it an inviting, welcoming and attractive space through design such as way-finding, pavements, streetscapes, lighting, data mining and the internet of things.
The solutions for the design challenge can be short, medium or long term interventions; working with buildings, businesses or public spaces. This is your chance to be part of a design challenge in your city by coming up with an innovative design that helps the area become an inviting, welcoming and attractive space. The Destination CQ area includes Smithfield and Union, Cathedral Quarter and Laganside and shares a boundary with its Belfast One BID neighbours along Gresham Street, North Street, Bridge Street and High Street.
This challenge is open to students (of any subject) or recent graduates (maximum of 2 years since graduation), with a £500 prize fund for the design challenge kindly provided by Destination CQ. There will be a series of facilitated workshops on Saturday mornings throughout October and the opportunity to exhibit design ideas throughout Belfast Design Week 4-10th November
We are currently inviting you to take part in the Urban Design Challenge, to do so simply fill in this form:


We're licensed, insured, and offer free estimates.
Dealing with unwanted stumps can be a major annoyance for any property owner. Not only do they mar the beauty of your landscape, but they can also pose safety risks and encourage pest infestations. In Ravenel, SC, where the natural beauty is a point of pride, maintaining a pristine and safe environment is essential. That’s where our expert stump grinding services come into play, offering a swift and effective solution to remove those unsightly stumps, enhancing your property’s aesthetics and safety.
Our state-of-the-art tree stump grinder technology ensures a thorough removal of any stump, no matter its size. With precision and care, we grind down the stump below the ground level, allowing for easy restoration of your landscape. This process not only eliminates the hazard but also prevents the spread of pests and diseases from the decaying wood, protecting your property’s health and the surrounding flora.
Understanding that each stump issue is unique, we provide customized tree grinding solutions tailored to the specific requirements of your property. Whether it’s a single stump from a fallen tree or multiple remnants from land clearing, our experts are equipped to handle jobs of any scale. Our tree stump grinding service is designed to be minimally invasive, preserving the integrity of your landscape while effectively removing the stumps.


Between installing a new patio and trimming your trees, there are so many things that you can do to enhance your yard. If you're a property owner in Jerome or Twin Falls, ID, you can rely on Ultimate One Landscaping to do them all. Our landscaping and local hardscaping company offers everything from yard maintenance to hardscaping work.
Whether you need a new retaining wall built or sod installed, we can handle it with ease. Call 208-749-0373 today to get a free estimate on your project.
Get a Free Estimate on Your ProjectWe'll give you the price before you commit
Se Habla Español
The team at our family-owned and -operated local hardscaping company has over 20 years of experience in the landscaping and hardscaping industry. By paying close attention to every detail and working to your exact specifications, we're looking to set the standard for landscaping and hardscaping contractors in Jerome & Twin Falls, ID.
You can rely on our landscaping and hardscaping contractors for a wide range of commercial and residential services. These include:
- Hardscaping work
- Yard maintenance
- Sprinkler installations and repairs
- Sod installations
Want to know more about our services? Get in touch with us today and we'll tell you everything you need to know.


Any time of the year, farm and ranch owners can and should make sure their irrigation system is working correctly as money and time can be saved through repairs, upgrades, and revisions.
An entire farm or ranch investment can be protected by a good irrigation system design and property value can be enhanced significantly.
Get Professional Irrigation Services
Seeking the services of farm irrigation professionals is the best way to begin the process of making sure a farm stays green.
Professional advice, product recommendations, irrigation system design, and other services are provided by quality irrigation companies.
Most irrigation systems need to designed right from the start and that requires knowledge and professionalism to set up the layout needed to ensure crops grow well.
Specific Irrigation System Needs
Head to head water coverage is a must when designing an irrigation system as water coverage needs to overlap in a proper irrigation system design as the water from heads should reach the heads to the sides as well as across from them.
For example, the heads should be spaced fifteen feet apart if they have fifteen-foot nozzles which can be clearly designed by irrigation system services.
It is important that the irrigation system devices are fine-tuned.
For slopes, the heads should be either pointed slightly downward or upward plus there are adjustable nozzles that can be set for various angles or static nozzles that come in a variety of angles.
Use State of the Art Advancements for Improved Performance
Great versatility can be achieved with the programming abilities of today's wide array of cutting edge irrigation system controllers.
It is advisable to use a digital electronic type as this is your most user-friendly option according to the vast majority of farm owners and they are affordable.
Many people and some professional irrigation system specialists overlook the value of automatic rain shut off sensors that are easy to install, very affordable, and not very big.
These should be incorporated into any farm irrigation system design plan.
Because there are so many different options for irrigation system services, going to the professionals is the best solution.
Experienced irrigation system design professionals have the years of experience necessary to make sure the job is done right.


Are Pergolas Must Be Added In The Garden?December 28, 2021
Are you looking for a place to store your extra potted plants? Do you want an enhancement that can add quality to your outdoor living experience? Do you want to spend some privacy time with your partner? Well, a single solution for you is to add a pergola to achieve your all desires! Although it is a simple structure, it can beautifully turn your backyard into a one-of-a-kind statement piece that you love the most. Being remarkably versatile, pergolas are built with vertical beams and roof beams without solid walls/roofs. And if the pergola is covered with plants, it will adorn your garden! These structures not only change your entire outdoor space but offer a lot of benefits as well. Here’s why you need to add a pergola to your yard;
Top Benefits Why One Should Own A Pergola
- Provides Privacy
Own a pergola if you want privacy for enjoying your outdoor space. Although this simple structure is open on all sides, you can create privacy by adding screens, latticework, or drapes to one of its sides.
- Beautifies Your Outdoor Space:
Do you want to add immense value to your outdoor space? Pergola could be an ideal choice. It not only beautifies your home but makes it a poignant asset if you are looking forward to selling your house.
- Provides Shade And Protection
Summers without shade-no way! Having pergolas in your backyard can give you a shaded area to spend your time without worrying about sunburn. Pergolas having an optional canopy can also be a good choice as they can open and close as per your requirements.
Pergola is made with different materials like vinyl, cedar, and even metal. So, you have multiple choices to choose from depending upon your budget, taste, or home style.
- Creates Additional Space For Your Plants
With having a pergola in your home, you can add additional space for your plant. Make your garden gorgeous by hanging plants from the boards. It is perfect for plants that create natural ceilings such as honeysuckle, clematis, grapevines, wisteria, and ivy.
- Creates A Better Entertainment Place
Are you a party lover? Having a pergola in your backyard can entertain you well to enjoy your outdoor parties by providing a versatile and attractive entertainment area. Many superlative ideas are available for you to make your space great where you can enjoy yourself with your loved ones.
Hence pergola is one of the gorgeous structures that turn your backyard into Heaven. Now it’s up to you how to transform your space into a peaceful environment where you can enjoy yourself with your family and friends. This is the place where you can get rid of your tiredness. Moreover, you can make your pergola more attractive by adding your favorite elements such as curtains, lights, hanging pot, and much more. So, adding a pergola to your deck or patio might be a perfect enhancement as it offers energy and tranquility!


Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Stone by stone...
Each project we start begins with one stone. It sets the tone for all others that follow in response to it's mathematical proportions and character. Generally I like to start with a good sized stone and build out in enough directions where my crew and I can see where we are going.
On this project I knew we were building a 6' tall dry stone retaining wall with granite from Idaho and Washington state. As per our engineer we dug down into bedrock 12" to toe in our foundation into the Chuckanut sandstone. 12" of foundation stone which I still had to build up another 9" to the top of our foundation stone! On top of that it was about 3-4' wide for the length of the wall. Aside from all the tonnage and work never to be seen... I knew we would have three sets of 'through stones' in this wall and decided to play with that detail starting with the large stone I craned into place.
Through Stones provide bonding deeper into retaining walls, and transfer laid to the back face of dry stone fences....
In this case...looking down on our wall, you can see our wall stones are about 12" deep on average. Our Through Stones are 30-36" long and overlap the stones in the back of our wall. They are set in modern dry stone retaining wall and dry stone fence construction at 18" in height, and every 36" in length of the wall. This repeats as you build up to what ever height. It is a working stone that every trained and certified dry stone mason will use in their construction. They add decades to the life of structures.
Usually we set these flush to the face of the wall. I wanted this length of wall to have a bit of character very subtly and calmly.
From here we wrapped around the corner and built a water feature into the wall.
And so stone by stone you see the pattern language revealed with the wall stones, through stones, cap stones, and even the large boulders which have the 'feather and wedge' drill holes left on the faces. The first stone I set was the large boulder below the set of three 'through stones'.
From here we needed to build stairs up to the top of the property for another intimate patio.
This image is to the right of the water feature. The first few steps were hand carved into the boulder. Our outdoor fireplace is mortared Montana Slate with tight joints, and a granite cap. We used a different tone our out door fireplace to set it apart from the other features.
When we started developing this space in the backyard and collaborating with the client, engineers, and plant landscapers we knew we wanted the wall, a water feature, an out door fireplace and BBQ, a small patio, and a main entertaining area. For us at Borrowed Ground, we build unique spaces in natural stone wether it is mortared, or a dry stone structure. Our crew fluctuates a bit from year to year, we travel around the state of Washington(even the islands), work in a wide range of styles, and continually strive to exceed our clients expectations. Not all of our jobs are of this scale. We work the same for each customer creating unique spaces that are fundamentally built to the highest quality of masonry standards, and artistic detail stone by stone.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Foundations for walls & related elements....
|Dry stone fence, limestone, Kentucky. Image by Mark Jurus.|
Why do these dry stone structures last so long? Luck? Lack of exposure to extreme elements? Freeze thaw not present in certain elements????
There are as many theories as there are people who have put one stone upon another. You can go to school and be instructed to build a wall to certain standards of quality. You can also build walls with a naivety to any of those rules. Both walls will have have certain truths that endear them to their own longevity. A friend of mine has said many times in my presence...."a poorly built wall often lives way longer than it should...". They do... wether they are pleasing to look at, or chaotic and terrifying in their relationship to the site.
For me it always starts the same for a new wall. I have to slow down and assess the landscape. This often takes me a while as I try and picture a new wall working in the landscape for the client as they intend it to. Eventually we come to 'yes' for the landscape/client/and myself.
After the site is assessed, the wall is defined to height-length-materials-thickness-drainage... you begin work. You excavate for your foundation. Foundations are to me one of the more beautiful details that hidden within the wall. Many times the only time a foundation is seen by the client is as a line item outlining our scope of work, or by the subtle edge that protrudes 3-4" proud beneath the face of the dry stone retaining wall or fence.
The foundation is, to me, one of the most important details in walls. There is a reason we use that phrase 'solid foundation' in a hundred different analogies in life. We don't want what is above grade to shift, or become insecure because of what is at our feet is not solid. Foundations vary incredibly according to region, site conditions, materials, engineering specifications, surcharge of slopes, and also personal experience of the contractor.
The Dry Stone Conservancy in Kentucky, when I went through their 'Boot Camp' program to obtain my basic certification through them, said that by adding a foundation to our walls of 4-6" thick stones, that protrude 3-4" on the face of dry stone retaining walls/and the same for dry stone fences, will add an estimated 25-50 years for a walls longevity. The foundation! I think this is where I fell in love with working with stone and thinking about the quality of materials and the relationship of the craftsman to a deep timeline long after they mason is gone.
I'll use this site as an example because it was relatively easy.... It is totally clear why the client wanted a 48" tall dry stone retaining wall along their driveway. We chose a blocky Montana slate to work with.....
After digging down, and cutting back into the hillside we realized we were sitting on our local sandstone bedrock. We also had a drainpipe we could remove excess water from below and behind the wall.
This was an easy foundation because we could build right up off the sandstone. We did three things. One was cutting the grade of the sandstone level, and running the back of the wall a few degrees below the front. And the second was to install a 4" drain pipe behind the wall, with a clean out under the lentil detail. We also removed the cedar tree on the edge of the cut to prevent it from growing roots into the wall and pushing it over, and or getting toppled by high winds and wet soils in the winter/spring.
So here you can see a detail of the finished wall with the tree removed(and all the blackberries), and the clean out access detail for water to collect in.
Above you can see Forest building a dry stone retaining wall out of Idaho Quartzite that will finish out at 48" tall. At his feet you can see the detail of the foundation protruding 4-5". In our part of the world the inspectors measure walls height from the bottom of the first stone.
Here is a finish detail of the wall before plants went in.... The pattern language of the foundation stones is picked up with the large cap stones.
We can return to this fence that has a few unique elements incorporated to it.
This site needed to incorporate a passageway for a seasonal stream that appeared during heavy rains, and lintels above the root structure of the 'witness tree' in Shaker Village. The foundation is entirely below water water line. Here I rebuilt the wall the had failed because of the tree and a broken lintel stone. After I stripped it out, I added foundation stones which will greatly strengthen the wall. The tree however will pull it apart again over time as the roots were monsters that should have been removed. By the way... trees love stone walls because the provide shade, and harbor moisture.
In some cases their engineer, or landscape architect, specifies something a little more extreme. In this case the client wanted a dry stone retaining wall look along their man made lake in Ontario. In this project my friend had to build on a concrete foundation and concrete wall behind the stone. The wall had large cap stones 3' x 3' x 6" thick mortared down to the stone. It was designed to show the top 12" in summer when the lake was full, much less in the winter as it receded, but also because of the freeze thaw and heaving.
This project is being built in Bellingham Washington. Our wall was engineered in context to the 'critical slope' behind it, the sandstone bedrock, our desired finish height of 6-7', and drainage. For this project we had to remove all topsoil, and 'toe' our wall into bedrock 6". That was about 11-13" below grade! In the first image you can see our foundation stones for our granite foundation stones. Crazy right? You can see in the second image those stones protruding 3-4". Also note our drain pipes behind the walls to remove excess water content. All the gravel came out as we installed our foundation stones.
I have seen many walls built on gravel of varying depths, on asphalt, over fallen logs/boulders, and stone. Every structure built should be honored with the foundation being properly built. Why waste the time to build a structure without a solid foundation?
As you can see every walls foundation is critical in context to the site, as well as the finished structure.
Monday, July 29, 2013
overview of details.... looking back
|Nick Fairplay & Patrick McAffee looks sum up the weeks hard work.|
It was an amazing week of transferring knowledge in stone to students, to faculty, and to the broader community that participated. This was my 8th StoneFest to attend. The first one I attended lit my passion for a relationship with stone. No where else have I participated in any event that has a focus on one material from so many different points of reference.
Stone & letter carving....with Karin Sprague & Tracy Mahaffey
Stone & Water with Scott Hackney
Stone & Architectural carving/Sculpture
with Nick Fairplay, Alexandra Morosco, Jon Decceles
Stone & Traditional masonry with Mike Schroder & Patrick McAffee
a dry stone retaining wall. Both are Irish walls...
|Entering the inner circle....|
|The Clochan embraced with stone!|
|The dry stone retaining wall from last year with coping on the left, |
and the dry stone fence on the right.
|The view of the dry stone fence, Clochan, and Ditch wall in the back.|
If you are curious about more details of this StoneFest, past StoneFest's, or the instructors....visit the link below.
I felt very lucky to be an instructor again and share in this journey.
A landscape may require stairs, a dry stone retaining wall, an arch, a dry stone fence, or any number of other stone elements to solve an existing transition. Each site is unique to the landscape, design parameters, materials, and budget.
|In this simple transition it is fairly obvious that we needed a retaining wall to hold back soil as well as creating a clean boundary between the driveway and the landscape.|
|We built a 4' tall by 60' long dry stone retaining wall using a Montana Slate, and cleaned up the hillside of blackberries. The cedar was critically damaged by previous excavators.|
|The large boulder is Olivine and the low dry stone retaining wall is Montana Slate.|
|Here our dry stone retaining wall turned into stairs to provide a transition between the patio area and the upper gardens|
Transitional elements in the landscape can function in a multitude of ways...
-They can provide emphasis & contrast between spaces....
|In these cases between the driveway and the entrance .|
Some of these elements are more artistic and architectural in nature and visually draw us in as destinations in the landscape.
|This 11' tall Inukshuk weighs 18 tons. My friend Cameron Scott and I built this for the Seattle Flower and Garden Show in 2008. People flocked here to have their pictures taken in front of it.|
|This large piece of granite we used for a wall end was a great detail for the stairs, landing and bench.|
|This is a dry stone fence I rebuilt in Shaker Village Kentucky . I loved how the small lunky detail allowed for animals and water to pass through, as well as accommodate the roots of the tree.|
Monday, January 21, 2013
I did a site drawing for our client (see earlier blog post October 3, 2011)proposing new walls, stairs, a gothic dry stone arch, and pathways. I love to draw, but not super tight....
|We took 25 yards of soil out from this area to bring it to the proper grade before we|
we began our wall.
Our client wanted this wall to stand out distinctly from the other work we had done, yet tie in with the same language. To do this we used the same Montana Slate materials, from a different quarry there, as well as the same stone from the dry stone retaining wall along the driveway. Functionally I needed to build stairs down from the deck to a path, which evolved to a dry stone arch hidden in the trees, to another set of stairs-which became cantilevered to this wall.
So the wild thing about this project was the staging of 80-90 tons of stone in this space, plus room for machinery, building, access to the mailbox, and keeping the city of Bellingham happy with our water runoff from the site into storm water drains. We got to know the city people quite well working here.
I decided to build a set of stairs down from the deck first to gain access to the slope safely every day. From there we located the arch site in the trees, established a path to the arch, and built the 2' tall dry stone retaining wall along the path which connects the arch to the stairs. To figure out where the stairs where the cantilevered stairs were going to start, I had to set the large piece of granite and establish the line of my dry stone retaining wall with it's base course.
So once that line was established we started with the cantilevered stairs and the retaining wall. I knew we needed to get a lot of big material up on the slope by hand, and with machinery, for the arch so we started building the cantilevered stairs up to the arch.
*Side note here...
This is the medium long version of this whole scope of work for this front area by the way..... Which lead up to the final angled/wedge dry stone retaining wall.
After we had built all those details over some period of time, we could finally begin our wall. We needed the cantilevered stairs, and dry stone retaining wall in to function as our wall end on the left.
So we followed our rules......Each stone in these structures has these rules applied, and then with the angled/wedge wall with get to apply the exceptions!
It begins like all dry stone walls built to DSWA standards...
1)Length in for all stones
2)One stone over two, and two stones on one
3)Largest stones go one the bottom of the wall
4)Stones are laid level and solidly
5)Build to the string line, and heart well!
|So we started with 5-6 pallets of 2-3" thick Montana Slate. We set up our wooden bankers to begin squaring up the stones, and sorting for the build.|
Before we could start building this I had to decide what angle we were going to lay the stone to. I didn't want it to look like it was slipping, or that it was laid casually. We decided a 60 degree angle looked the best and committed to it for 50' long by 4' tall....
You can't 'see the forest for the trees' when you start a wall and this is really when everything seems off.
|And then BAM! It finally snaps together once a pattern language is established!|
|From the side you can see the technique...|
|Another beautiful detail about these walls is the top course. It creates a very beautiful line...|
So here we are almost done.... silt fence still up, bankers have moved with us down the wall, patterns mostly revealed, seasons changing...
|So here is how we end this wall. I had the granite stone on top for|
about 12 months. It is about 30" long into the wall.
|The view from the deck above the wall.|