| Winter freeze fades, landscapers see sales grow
STOCKTON - Business is finally in full bloom for garden landscapers, as a freezing winter closes and spring blossoms. The demand for landscape installations rise each spring, area land scape designers say. And the recent cold snap that killed numerous plants like birds of paradise, kiffir lillies and philodendrons provided gardeners an opportunity to replace dead plants. "Contractors and home owners have been replacing things like crazy because of the frost," said Bill Snyder, a landscape architect and owner of The Garden Concepts of Bill Snyder in Stockton. Another thing: As home and commercial construction kicks into higher gear, landscaping businesses are trying to keep up, added Snyder. At the Morada home of Sue and Barry Maashoff, about a dozen dead oleander shrubs along a fence will be replaced by Creative Outdoor Environments, a Lathrop-based design and maintenance contractor.
Vandergrift Landscape Design Workshop
The Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc. would like to invite YOU to come & participate in the upcoming landscape design charrette, this Saturday, April 14th at the Vandergrift Presbyterian Church, 195 Washington Avenue, Vandergrift, PA 15690.Vandergrift, PA - In celebration of the April 26, 1822 birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, whose firm was commissioned by George McMurtry to design Vandergrift, and National Landscape Architecture Month, the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has chosen Vandergrift to be the focus of a design charrette. Sponsored by the Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc., and Sustainable Pittsburgh, the charrette will take place on April 14, 2007, from 1:30 - 5:30 pm at the Vandergrift Presbyterian Church, at 195 Washington Avenue, Vandergrift, PA 15690. A charrette is a collaborative session in which a group of designers attempt to find a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people.
Bloom where you're planted: Vegetation rules vary by community
Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series on vegetation rules in North Valley neighborhoods. This week will focus on Stetson Hills, Pinnacle Hill and North Canyon Ranch. Next will will cover Tramonto and Anthem. By Joey Airdo, Independent Newspapers Part of living in a community with a homeowners association is abiding by that neighborhood's rules. Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dictate the laws of the land, including the types of vegetation acceptable in any given community. Meanwhile, plants give each neighborhood its own distinct style. An area's appearance depends on the colors, sizes and shapes of vegetation in each homeowner's front yard. Stetson Hills The Stetson Hills Community Association's Residential Design Guidelines state homeowners are responsible for landscaping their yards and public right of way areas adjacent to their lot.
Transportation consultants recommend changes
Traffic patterns could change again on Wright Street, Armory Avenue and Sixth Street, if the university and the city of Champaign adopt the recommendations of a consulting agency that recently completed a new traffic safety study. The consulting firm Martin/Alexiou/Bryson recently presented the findings of its Multi-Modal Transportation Study to Chancellor Richard Herman, who hired the firm in 2006 following the death of a UI freshman struck by a Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus. The firm worked with the Project Steering Committee, which comprises several UI staff members as well as representatives from Champaign, Urbana and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. The firm recommended a series of systemic improvements to reduce personal vehicle and bus traffic on campus and to promote use of alternate transportation modes, and recommended street-level improvements to improve safety at intersections and crossings.
Drought Proof Your Landscape
ATLANTA -- No one can predict how much rain the summer will bring. But you can prepare for dry spells by droughtproofing your landscape. First, check out your current water use patterns to see what parts of your landscape get the most water. Typically, turf areas get the most irrigation. After all, turf is often used as a welcome mat to the home. A lush, green carpet adds to the home's curb appeal. However, some turf grasses are more drought-tolerant than others. Bermuda, for instance, ranks high. It will actually go dormant during drought, then bounce back when rain resumes. Fescue, on the other hand, may die if it's not watered when rainfall is limited. Depending on your current grass species, changing over to a more drought-tolerant grass may significantly reduce your landscape's water demand.
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