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I just saw something scroll past on FBN that Scotts Miracle Gro(w) is closing the Smtih&Hawken unit.
More on this tomorrow as I find out more about it.
“What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of science is not able to make an oyster?”
—– Jeremy Taylor
[Most popular image on the blog! ]
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Addendum: So my yearly break to refresh and rejuvenate is over. I am back. The Spring rush has continued with a few projects I hope to be able to share down the road. Here on the blog.
Here’s to a good Summer and hoping all my Designer friends had a great Spring.
I will not be attending the APLD 20th year event in Portland.
In my opinion the conference does not have enough happening to justify the money and the valuable time it takes to attend.
I will miss the networking with friends(best part for me) which seems vacation-like. Right now I do not need to take that vacation.
The conference has little to do with time given to long-time APLD’ers to reflect, reminisce, and ponder the past.
I also thought it was slighty strange to go to the West Coast for the 20th. Actually more than slightly.
APLD was started in the NEast part of the country and a lot of the founding members were in the late 40’s, 50’s and even 60’s add 20 years to that and now you are making a cross-country trip a little tougher . . . but then again why would the current board think about that.
If you are going to respect, honor and celebrate the founders . . . make it easy for the founders to attend the event
Full Disclaimer: I do know the owner of the company
More snooping around has lead me to a few interesting sites and post you might find interesting.
Designboom has really caught my interest starting with a story on a new opportunity in solar business.
Roofray is the name of the company and they’ve got some interesting ideas.
roofray’ is a solar array modelling service and is community designed to help consumers evaluate solar for their
homes or businesses.
Oak Barrels
Everybody is always looking for ideas when it comes to recycling, sustainability and being really clever. Well take a look at this use for old oak barrels. This is some really clever, and useful design and implementation in action.
This is just a taste of what you’re in for when you go through the images of this area at a winery in Chile. Another story from the Designboom site where a fairly decent story is written up. There was another link on the site sending you to the original site from Chile, it’s all in Spanish but there’s lots of interesting images and projects on the page.
Another
Tomorrow’s Thoughts Today is one of those sites that you can spend a lot of time at, or very little. I would say it depends on your mood at the moment you arrive over there. I believe it is what some would call a aggregate site. Someone has spent some real time searching around.
Recession gardens?
This story about the big push in gardening-specifically vegeatable gardening caught my eye, and this string of sentences rang true . . .
That knowledge isn’t innate these days, especially for urban dwellers.
Bobby Wilson, president of the American Community Gardening Association, says all of that interest is great, but he worries that Americans aren’t equipped to grow their own food without some help.
"Many of the people that want to get into the gardening and greening movement right here have never gained the skills," he said. "Many of them came up in an era where there was no vocational education, so there was no need to learn anything about horticulture or agriculture."
I’ve read in some other places that there is a big push in vegetable plants and that seeds(in some places) are flying off the shelves.
On the face of these anecdotes, and others I think that’s great, but the cynical side of me thinks that most new gardeners will do a poor to extremely poor job of preparing soil for planting . . . and we know what that means . . . lots of frustration, anger, work, poor results that will lead to a big percentage of the newbies to throw their hands in the air and quit.
The challenge will be to keep those people involved, so how does the real challenge of what it takes to make a garden come true happen. It has to be more than the HGTV 22 minute ‘design-on-a-dime’, bottom of the barrel solution(s).
$200.00 Bucks
I have a problem with some of these numbers from the story, they seem out of whack. I do a lot of gardening in 8×4 raised beds with extremely good soil and my return is good,, but my experience is vast, so what to make of these . . .
Last year, Burpee released a report saying a family will get an average 25-to-1 return on its investment in a garden.
So, by that count, a family that spends about $200 on a medium-to-large garden, as Michelle Obama reportedly did, will save $5,000 in grocery bills over the course of a year.
That statistic is inflated, said Mike Metallo, spokesman for the National Gardening Association.
Metallo’s group says a $70 investment in a garden will yield $600 in produce for the year.
Double damn!
That line that the White House is putting out about $200(as though this is the total price) really is sticking in my craw/gut/brain, whatever.
Unless, unless they really did just strip the soil and throw some seed down-remember the photo-op? I guess that would account for, oh say, $200 bucks.
Turning the soil, adding compost/topsoil/organics, material for raised beds, walkways, labor, (watering?), etc. All that for $200.
I just don’t think so.
Again where is the estimate for the labor, or the hours involved. it’s a dis-service to all those who don’t know about gardening who are now jumping into gardening . . . stuff like this just burns my ass. Rant over.
The White House
This house belongs to all of us, every American. I want to be proud of the White House and the Office, and all those associated with this beautiful building and grounds.
The last thing I want to see is some half-assed piece of ground chunked up and planted with a few vegetables and herbs on the lawn of the White House. I had seen another picture where one of the chefs was laying out the beds with some flags. Looking at the above image I’d say there is a little more to it than that.
I would hope so.
Oh, another thing . . . that’s more than $200 dollars.
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Addendum: Garden plan image was found in an article from the New York Times with source credit to The White House.
Yep, it’s true 3,249 post on this blog concerning housekeeping. That many post must mean that’s all I post about.
Speaking of about, My ‘About’ page was a HTML wreck, and absolute wreck and I had to clean that up, plus I added some pretty pictures and drawings to the page.
There was also some wackiness at the WCI/Links page also, plus I added even more pretty pictures!
I’ll leave you with another pretty picture . . .
!00 miles or so West of Salt Lake City
Here’s the latest from Cornell Ornithology dept. The release concerns nest, nest watching and counting. I won’t bore you with more junk from me.
March 30, 2009
Dear Friend,
Got Nest Boxes? If you do, you have a front-row seat on the miracle of birth and renewal in the bird world. If you don’t, now is the time to set one up. You can also help scientists learn more about bird families and how they might be affected by climate change.
You’re invited to register your nest box (or boxes) with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program (www.RegisterYourNestbox.org). It won’t cost you a thing but it does yield valuable information about breeding birds and how their natural rhythms may be changing.
NestWatch is easy and fun for adults and children. It helps all of us reconnect with nature, which is good for our health and well-being. NestWatch is a great activity to do on your own, in a classroom, or as a homeschool project.
Here’s why it’s so important to gather this information: Studies are showing that some birds are laying their eggs sooner than they used to–as much as nine days earlier in the case of Tree Swallows. That could spell trouble if the eggs hatch before a steady supply of insects is available for feeding the young. As a NestWatch participant, you’ll visit nests once or twice a week and report what you see: Which kinds of birds are using your nest boxes? When were the first eggs laid? How many eggs were laid and how many actually hatched?
Everything you need to register your nest box and get started with NestWatch is available online, including directions on how you can monitor nest boxes without disturbing the birds. If you have a blog, you can link to the NestWatch site using the web button we provide below.
Don’t have a nest box yet? Find out how to provide the best and safest boxes for bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, and other cavity-nesting birds online. If you like, you can also monitor the nests of backyard birds that don’t use nest boxes, such as phoebes, robins, and goldfinches.
By the way, the hugely popular NestCams are back in action—peek into nests and nest boxes across the country via live cameras focused on Eastern Bluebirds, Barred Owls, Wood Ducks, Barn Owls and more. Keep watching and see what hatches!
The more NestWatchers we have the better the information we can gather about our bird friends. Feel free to download this NestWatch flyer(PDF) and post it anywhere you feel is appropriate. As a citizen scientist you have the power to really make a big difference.
Thank you!
Tina Phillips, Project Leader
NestWatch
P.S. Check out the “Early Birds and Spring” video about the NestWatch project now posted on the ScienCentral web site! And here’s that web button:
I spent yesterday with the ladies(and a few guys) of the Design Network in Cleveland, Ohio.
Why? you ask.
To talk about one of my favorite subjects; stone . . . and the use of stone in the landscape. Almost 5 hours on all types of ways to look at, use, study, design, dream, etc. It was a great time.
I really like doing these in-depth workshops where the crowd is around 25 or so. It has a more intimate feel to the setting and allows me better interaction with the group. it also helps when you have a group that knows each other, why?
They feel less inhibited in asking questions, and are willing to go deeper into the subject matter.
The other reason I like this format is . . . is time. Allotting this much time lets me go much deeper into the subject.
I still don’t get the antiquated way some of these “alphabets” run their conferences . . . 50 minute talks in a room full of people listening to lectures-it’s all so one sided. It has to be, an hour or less is not a lot of time to lay out your best philosophy on a subject. Plus there is no real time for questions, without cutting in to the lecturer’s time.
But I digress
So the day went very well, they ask about coming back and having workshops on several different subjects, including drawing, rendering, and other design subjects.
I had a blast and would really like to thank the members of the Design Network for allowing me the time to share with the group.
See you at Hocking?
May 8th and 9th Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC is hosting their Spring symposium entitled:
The Interlacing of Words and Things in Gardens and Landscapes: Beyond Nature and Culture
There is a lot of talk in the opening description about how this idea of nature an culture have been discussed by a lot of different folks in their own context, but never together in the discussion of designed spaces.
. . . . by proposing new modes for the description and understanding of gardens, whether in the context of history or in the present – as they have been, or are, experienced by those who make and use them across many different areas of the world.
The ANLA has become part of the 21st ca World Wide Web(as I like to kid the big bosses) with their snazzy new web site and it’s a winner.
For me the best part will be the Knowledge Center with it’s vast storehouse of knowledge in written, audio and video formats. Some good stuff from Clinics past.
If you’re not a member . . . consider it. Most especially consider attending the Mgmt Clinic in Louisville, Ky.
Last week Washington D.C. was in an uproar to pass the stimulus bill, it was hurry, hurry hurry-time is of the essence.
It is critical that we pass this bill immediately or there will be dire consequences.
Heck I read Senator Brown had to leave his Mother’s funeral in Ohio and fly back to D.C. in time to cast the 60th vote for passage in the Senate.
Hurry, hurry, hurry-to hell with reading it, discussing it, glancing at it . . . just vote the damn thing in, and fast.
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday. afternoon . . . in Denver.
I was right before, vote the whole damn bunch out, put some others in, and if they don’t work for US, vote that whole damn bunch out!
I’m just sayin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today’s keynote speaker was Eric Wahl on The Art of Vision and let me tell you something . . . it was art, art in every sense of the word.
From the opening line to the 1st note on U2 blasting onto the screen to the last note and brush stroke of a upside painted portrait of our 16th President-Abraham Lincoln. Simply put . . . it was terrific.
In all my years of coming here it was only the 2nd time I have seen such a spontaneous outburst in the form of a standing ovation . . . a very rare happening for a public speaker, and about the highest honor a audience can give back.
Style, presentation, tone, visuals, music, montage(s) of images and music, along with performance. Well done.
Everybody likes to watch people draw, it comes across as magical. lines coming together and viola . . . images, forms, shapes . . . trust me, in my own little humble way in happens every time I’m scribbling in public.
Take that starting point, add a stage lights, 800+ in the crowd, music, visuals, energy and this artist who paints in great big bold graphic strokes on a blakc background . . . and you really got something.
If you ever get a chance to watch Eric perform, or speak-make the time, effort, and energy to go.
Tap into the wealth of ideas, creativity, and knowledge.
Bringing sand to the beach.
As an adult enjoy this idea of silliness.
Stop trying to be perfect, try for remarkable.
Stand for the aesthetic beauty of our environment, but also our sustainability.
The art of vision is couched in the purpose of reprogramming.
Drawing is a learned skill.
— Eric Wahl from 02/08/09 ANLA Mgmt Clinic
More as we go along, be strong, be powerful, take a chance or two . . . you never know what might be in the envelope!
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Addendum: The other outburst, was for A.E. Bye in(I think) 1993 when the APLD was here. Mr. Bye was our guest keynoter.
His collective wisdom, insight, and vision concerning beauty and simplicity was delivered with great humility and simplicity.
The finest talk on design and the design profession I have ever heard . . . still to this day.
Sustainable, sustainable, sustainable . . . the word of the day. At least for me. Today and most likely my major emphasis of/at the Clinic will focus on Sustainability issues.
Two very good talks today.
Robert Schutzki on What Sustainability Means to the Landscape Industry, and a talk by Bob Dolibois (our fearless ANLA leader) on Sustainability and the Green Industry.
One dealing with the science and practical and the other on the meanings/concepts/phrasology and practical for us in the industry.
More on these talks later tomorrow, it’s off to receptions and Muggets(why again is there only one night of Muggets? No answer is acceptable, btw)
One other note, the morning keynote by Neil Howe on Generations: LIfestyles and Workstyles was terrific, well-delivered and insightful.
More to follow.
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
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