Landscaping

"FOR SALE" signs adorn the doors of many Lawn rooms protesting the prospect of Robert Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs, living in a pavilion. The residents of these Lawn rooms are concerned that his interest in pavilion residency and stellar fundraising efforts allowed him to "purchase" a pavilion by cutting a line of equally qualified candidates. The question is, don't student Lawn residents also "buy" a spot to live on the Lawn?

In applying for a Lawn room, students construct a marketable rsum to bolster their chances for selection. They tout involvement in the Honor Committee, Student Council, University Guide Service, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, philanthropy, with the list going on and on. While certainly there are people who participate in these organizations or in philanthropies for noble reasons, others use their involvement as currency with which to "purchase" Lawn rooms.

EDITORIAL/ Landscape ordinance

Author and court lady Sei Shonagon so admired the sceneries of erstwhile Kyoto that she wrote about them in "The Pillow Book" in the late 10th to 11th centuries. She described the purple-tinged clouds trailing through the sky at dawn in spring, and crows flying away in haste at dusk in autumn.

But such sights are hard to find in today's Kyoto, where high-rise apartment buildings continue to replace traditional wooden townhouses known as machiya. The "1,000-year capital" is undergoing drastic changes.

At this rate, the city will soon turn into a "mini Tokyo." Amid a brewing sense of crisis, the city of Kyoto passed the "city view and scenery creation ordinance" aimed at protecting its cityscape. The municipal assembly unanimously approved the ordinance, which, according to the mayor, "looks ahead 100 years into the future."

The ordinance designates sites where the view should be preserved.

Great American Gardeners Dig up Tips for Guests at 14th Annual ...

One of the country's most popular gardening gurus, HDTV's Paul James, is back with the inside scoop on home gardening during the 14th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. James, also known as "The Gardener Guy," kicks off the Great American Gardener series, appearing twice daily at the Garden Odyssey Festival Center in Future World.

The Great American Gardener series, which continues each Friday-Sunday through June 3, is presented in partnership with the American Horticultural Society. Some of the most respected gardeners and nature experts in the country reveal tips and share entertaining stories during the presentations open to all Epcot guests at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Scheduled to appear:

Paul James (April 5-8) -- Host of HGTV's "Gardening By the Yard," James draws on his vast horticulture knowledge to answer gardening questions and provide helpful insights into America's top hobby.

Habitat for Humanity benefits from Public Radio fundraiser

A Habitat for Humanity home will be brightened by new landscape designed by a USU student and with materials gathered by a student group.

Kevin Jensen, a landscape architecture and environmental planning honors student designed the layout, and the USU student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects is collecting plants and irrigation material from local businesses, according to Tamara Shaprio, an LAEP professor.

Habitat for Humanity recently joined with Utah Public Radio for a fundraising even that helped both groups, said Cathy Ives, UPR station general manager. She explained that the radio station held a fundraiser to help fund the station and wanted to join with another group, but they couldn't directly raise money for a nonprofit group. They decided to have businesses donate material to help Habitat for Humanity instead.

Art in the Garden Tour Takes Place Sunday

For the first time the tour also includes a public garden, The Old Mill in San Marino. This 1816 adobe was built by the Mission San Gabriel to serve as a grist mill and is considered the oldest commercial building in Southern California. Today the Diggers Garden is one of the sites main attractions as it tries to encourage native California trees and plants. Right now the pomegranate trees are just beginning to flower and everything is very green and waiting to show off for visitors, said Cathy Brown, Assistant Director at the Old Mill. The honor is all ours, Brown said of being asked to be on this years tour. It is a wonderful tour to be a part of, and you get a chance to peek in other peoples backyards. Over a thousand people are expected to make the rounds Sunday and support the CAG and its main fundraising activity for the year.