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Parking Lot Rain Garden Landscaping Protects Our Water

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MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, May 14, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) —
Yes, there are solutions to the water pollution created by parking
lot runoff that winds its way through drainage systems, rivers,
lakes, canals, and, at some point, into our water glasses. Water
contamination has to be tackled at the source – in the parking lots
themselves – and one of the answers to the problem can be with the
addition of rain gardens and self-sustaining landscaping.

A TV short aired by the Knowledge Network in April 2013 described the
problem and its management very well: our waterways are becoming
increasingly polluted with oil, gas, anti-freeze, toxic cleaners,
paint, and other chemicals that accumulate in parking lots,
construction sites, and streets; as well as with fertilizers and
pesticides used to enhance landscaping.

The TV cameras zeroed in on concerned citizens who had learned about
the benefits of rain gardens to help control water pollution and were
introducing the concept in the Seattle, Washington, community of
North Ridge, with the goal of constructing 12,000 such gardens. Many
other communities across the country are becoming involved in similar
programs as citizens learn that rain gardens help manage storm water
runoff and can protect our water sources.

“We offer our clients rain garden landscaping in an effort to help
them reduce water pollution from parking lot runoff and to help
absorb overflow after a storm,” said Gina Vella, President, Universal
Site Services. “I think it’s wonderful that so many people are
becoming involved in the management of storm water runoff.”

Rain gardens are shallow depressions about 12 or more inches deep
filled with compost that will collect and filter storm water and
parking lot runoff so that the water is cleaned naturally. As well,
the rain gardens are landscaped with attractive vegetation, which
grows well in the composted-enhanced, nutrient-rich soil.

“We calculate the size and number of rain gardens needed to support
the runoff from parking lot surfaces and the best location for them,”
Mrs. Vella added, “and our company specializes in providing
self-sustaining, native vegetation to reduce the need for fertilizers
and pesticides so that we don’t add to the pollution problem.

Plant species native to an area are self-sustaining because they have
a natural protection against local weather conditions and insect
infestations. Exotic, non-native plants usually require the
protection of herbicides and fertilizers for survival.

Companies that landscape their parking lots with well-placed rain
gardens covered with native plants provide three-way protection for
the community: the rain gardens filter toxins from runoff, diminish
overflow after heavy storms, and reduce the amount of herbicides and
fertilizers that are washed into our water.

It’s one of the easier solutions to the problem of parking lot
runoff.

About Universal Site Services

Universal Site Services is a full service property maintenance and
site services company serving clients in California, Arizona, and
Nevada. Founded in 1958, Universal is one of the largest
family-owned, full-service outdoor maintenance companies on the West
Coast. Universal was one of the inventors of the regenerative air
parking lot sweeper. Services include parking lot sweeping pressure
washing, day porter, landscaping, property maintenance and graffiti
removal. For more information about Universal, please visit
www.universalsiteservices.com or call: 800-647-9337.







        
        Contacts:
        Doug Hay  Associates
        Doug Hay
        877-226-3823
        doug@doughayassoc.com
www.universalsiteservices.com

SOURCE: Universal Site Services







        mailto:doug@doughayassoc.com

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Conserve water when gardening & landscaping

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Spring is finally under way, and for many people in New Jersey this means the start of new gardening, lawn and landscaping plans. The spring planting season also coincides with the beginning of the area’s months of peak water demand.

In the height of summer, water usage in Monmouth County alone reaches 80 million gallons a day or more in the peak demand periods. Much of this increase comes from outdoor water usage in the summer months.

The demand for water in Monmouth County has been steadily increasing over the last 100 years, yet the current water supply in New Jersey has been essentially the same for decades.

Altons Garden Centre: Get tips from the country’s top gardeners at the 2013 …

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Altons Online Garden Centre

Fondly coined by Bill Clinton as ‘The Woodstock of the mind’, I would certainly encourage gardeners to learn as much as they can from this 10 day event.

Essec (PRWEB UK) 13 May 2013

A festival famed for bringing together some of the world’s most prolific writers starts on Thursday 23rd May 2013. The Telegraph Hay Festival is inviting some of the UK’s most renowned gardeners to share their tips and advice with the nation – as well as leading garden experts, Altons Online Garden Centre.

Established around a kitchen table back in 1987, the Telegraph Hay Festival has witnessed a number of established filmmakers, politicians, environmentalists and musicians exchange their knowledge and expertise with thousands of visitors at Brecon Beacons National Park – and since its growth, has expanded to cover a number of different topics including economics, science, music, poetry and gardening.

Marketing manager at Altons Garden Centre, James Oxley, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for any budding gardeners to get advice from the very best in the business – and what better place to be inspired than in the scenic Welsh borders. With insight from the likes of renowned landscape designer Sir Roy Strong plus renowned Herefordshire gardener, Monty Don, this event will surely stir up horticultural creativity for the green-fingered community.”

As the largest garden centre in Essex, Altons Garden Centre stocks a huge selection of stylish outdoor and garden products – including outdoor furniture, water features, garden machinery and plants. Horticultural enthusiasts can also join the Altons Gardening club, and receive exclusive offers and invitations to special events along with a one year’s subscription to a personal online plant inventory and garden diary service.

“In attendance will also be Ruth Brooks and Dave Goulson, along with the esteemed Professor Dianne Edwards from Cardiff University,” added Oxley.

“Fondly coined by Bill Clinton as ‘The Woodstock of the mind’, I would certainly encourage gardeners to learn as much as they can from this 10 day event. Taking place during the bank holiday weekend, this is a rare opportunity to mingle with some of the world’s brightest minds whilst enjoying what the festival has to offer.”

For horticulturalists unable to make the festival, gardeners can enjoy Altons Garden Centre’s spring edition of the 2013 Beautiful Gardens magazine – available to read online now. From Altons garden furniture sets to BBQ accessories, make the most of the May bank holiday weekend by visiting http://www.alton-gardencentre.co.uk or call 0845 838 8816 today.

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Leitrim Garden Designer to Bloom in Phoenix Park

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    • Nicky Haslam’s garden designs: bringing the inside out

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    The garden in Chelsea

    Nicky has a hybrid conservatory/greenhouse where he grows bulbs, masses of
    geraniums, echeverias and other pot fillers, which he plunges into
    containers of all shapes and sizes and carts all over the place, a musical
    chairs-like arrangement, so that he can appreciate the plants to the full.

    Creating a space that flows out fluidly from the house for eating,
    entertaining and just enjoying is carried out with verve. Nicky firmly
    believes “that food tastes better outside, and it’s even truer with
    flickering flames” – no outdoor heaters here – “just
    piles of rugs and old Barbours”.

    His garden furniture is often an eclectic mix, a variation of styles that are “much
    prettier and more relaxed than if they are all matching”. If he is
    ordering furniture, he almost invariably specifies Brown Jordan
    (brownjordan.com) from California. Otherwise, his terrace will be decorated
    with small, Gothic tables, the equivalent of those you might put by a sofa,
    but they show off a small planted tub (bringing it nearer eye level) instead
    of a lamp. The tables, tubs and other huge planters may well be painted in a
    trademark coordinating colour. In his own home, he has used a smoky
    blue-grey. This adds subtle colour in our dull winter light, without being
    so bright as to make everything beside it look deathly dull. In summer, it
    is fabulous with our lush greens, powerful but understated. The fabrics come
    outside too; he designed “Melba”, which is a bold green stripe
    splattered with the occasional pink magnolia flower. At The Hunting Lodge,
    he has made cushions covered in this to fit his Gothic metal benches. He has
    a definite “thing” for green and white stripes; he makes up
    awnings in this, maybe to go over some windows, or a larger one over a
    terrace.

    His garden designs often include eye-catchers, which may be a “stone”
    obelisk in the distance – often in reality just timber, cut and painted, but
    it definitely fools the eye. Gates and mini pavilions are used to add style,
    function and interest. He will design them with the architecture of the
    house in mind, perhaps picking up an iconic detail, curve or feel. On his
    own house, a blank, rather boring wall was lifted with a simple false door.
    The frame around it is on the lines of an ogee arch, with trellis framing it
    and a step leading up. All the detailing makes it convincing.

    As to planting, as you would expect, Nicky has his definite favourites.
    Anything pink and blowsy is welcome, such as peonies, roses and stocks.
    Anything that looks like it might work on chintz is welcome. He picks up
    tricks from fellow designers and was impressed by Nancy Lancaster’s idea of
    putting plant pots full of colour raised up on wire stands to add height and
    interest in a border. He has a more laid-back approach, too. A sweep of
    bracken lined a walkway; he has slashed the bracken back (every two weeks
    initially to eradicate it) and discovered masses of wild orchids have come
    up instead, which have been much encouraged. Structure is important, and low
    box hedges outline a strong pattern work of beds, keeping all incumbents on
    the straight, if not narrow.

    Video: Nicky Haslam’s sumptuous garden

    ‘Folly
    de Grandeur’     by Nicky Haslam (Jacqui Small,
    £40) is available to order from Telegraph
    Books         (0844 871 1514) at £36 + £1.35 pp.

    13 upgrades to make over your outdoor grill area

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    When the weather cooperates, there are few meals more pleasant than those you can enjoy in your own backyard. The fresh air and hot grill have a way of conjuring a vacation mood — even if you are only grilling up a quick weeknight dinner. Get inspired to make over your grilling zone for luxurious outdoor dining with these 13 ideas.

    traditional patio by Olive Branch Integrated Outdoor Design

    by Olive Branch Integrated…

    1. Pull up a stool. Watching the chef at the grill is half the fun — encourage spectators by setting up a bar-height table and stools near the grill. Go for a built-in, like the gorgeous stone version shown here, or just set up a bar-height outdoor table and chairs.

     

    contemporary patio by austin outdoor designby austin outdoor design

    2. Accent with steel for a modern look. Lots of outdoor kitchens use stone and wood (which can be beautiful), but modern spaces cry out for something sleeker. Stainless steel counters are a great fit, and galvanized steel Tolix stools bring a little industrial cool.

     

    contemporary patio by The Home Improvements Group, Inc.by The Home Improvements Group,…

    3. Add a prep zone. Whether you have an outdoor sink plumbed or simply add a freestanding work table, a well-positioned prep area is what will transform just a grill into a true outdoor kitchen. Be sure to include an easy-clean work surface and some storage for frequently used tools.

     

    modern landscape by The Garden Route Companyby The Garden Route Company

    4. Stay cool with a big umbrella. An extra-large freestanding umbrella offers more flexibility than one attached to the table. Use it to shade the prep area (keeping food out of the sun), then move it to cover the eating area when it’s time to sit down.

     

    traditional patio by Sheldon Pennoyer Architectsby Sheldon Pennoyer Architects

    5. Make your grill a mini destination.While you will sacrifice some convenience, locating your grill and eating area away from the house can make eating al fresco feel like a getaway. Take advantage of a great view, flip burgers by the pool, or hide away in a secluded garden nook.

     

    traditional landscape by Alderwood Landscapingby Alderwood Landscaping

    6. Add a roof for all-weather cooking. If your grill is out in the open, consider adding a shelter to protect the cook in a sudden downpour. Just be sure that any structure is a safe distance from the grill to avoid fires.

     

    contemporary landscape by Sun Valley Landscapingby Sun Valley Landscaping

    7. Cook campfire-style. Is roughing it more your style? Forgo the fancy grill entirely in favor of a stone fire pit with attached grilling grates.

     

    traditional porch by Rice and Brown Architectsby Rice and Brown Architects

    8. Try window service. If your grill setup is near the house, a pass-through to the kitchen can be extremely handy — and fun! Pull up a couple of stools on the outside, and you’ll have your own little bar, too.

     

    contemporary patio by Vidabelo Interior Designby Vidabelo Interior Design

    9. Consider a mini fridge. If you cook out a lot, it may be worth it to add a small fridge to your grill area. It’s perfect for keeping meat at hand yet out of the sun — and for storing icy beverages for the chef.

     

    traditional porch by Stone Acorn Buildersby Stone Acorn Builders

    10. Slim down furniture. A slender table with bench seats will fit the most guests in tight quarters. If you really need every spare inch, choose benches that can tuck under the table and push the whole thing against the wall when it’s not in use.

     

    modern patio by austin outdoor designby austin outdoor design

    11. Maximize your space. Having something built in to exactly fit a space is ideal, because you won’t waste an inch. The outdoor kitchen shown here was ingeniously built right into the deck railing for a sleek look that really maximizes the space.

     

    eclectic kitchen by Sandy Koepkeby Sandy Koepke

    12. Accessorize. Gather ingredients on a pretty tray (bonus: It’s great for carting items from the house), deck out the prep area with a few potted plants and keep frequently used sauces and oils within reach.

     

    mediterranean patio by Donna Wax, Architectby Donna Wax, Architect

    13. Set a mood at night with lighting.A combination of landscape lighting and direct lighting over the grill area will offer the right balance of function and ambience.

    Tell us: Are you updating your grill setup this summer?  

    City-Hired Consultants to Makeover Midtown East’s Streets

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    consultants-FourConcepts.jpgThe Bloomberg administration is pushing to rezone 73 blocks of Midtown East to create bigger, taller office buildings, and there are quite a few people who are worried that jamming more people into the neighborhood is not a good idea. Chief among the concerns is the state of public space in Midtown East—there isn’t much of it and what’s there needs to be improved. So to address these concerns, the city (in this case, Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn) has put together a team of consultants that will hold three public workshops to garner ideas in order to revamp the streetscape and “make the area a desirable place to live, work, pass through and visit.”

    The consultant team consists of Jonathan Rose Company, Gehl Architects, and Skanska, and the goal is to make the streets less congested and more enjoyable with landscaping and public seating. All of the findings will be published in the creatively-name East Midtown Public Realm Vision Plan, to be released this fall around the same time that the Midtown East rezoning ULURP heads into the home stretch.
    · NYC DOT, City Planning and Council Member Garodnick Announce Community Planning Process for East Midtown Streetscape [nyc.gov]
    · Midtown East Rezoning [Curbed]

    Ideas to ease congestion on Palm City Road include roundabouts, eliminating …

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    STUART — Motorists may no longer be able to turn right from U.S. 1 onto Palm City Road if state and Martin County officials approve a plan presented to Stuart city commissioners Monday night.

    “This is the shortest shortcut from U.S. 1 to Palm City,” Commissioner Jeff Krauskopf said. “What’s the biggest thing we can do to reduce traffic?”

    The shortcut is so popular that Palm City-bound traffic backs up during rush hour, blocking entrances to several condominiums and other residential side streets.

    Those motorists would be forced to continue south to Kanner Highway, then turn right onto Monterey Road to cross the Palm City Bridge.

    That would provide relief for residents along Palm City Road but do little for the motorists, who already face a long line of traffic on Kanner Highway waiting to turn onto Monterey Road.

    Consulting engineer Joe Capra said more turn lanes would be needed at major intersections in the Palm City Road area.

    The plan already faces one obstacle because state Department of Transportation officials don’t favor eliminating right turns off U.S. 1.

    “Just because the DOT doesn’t like the idea now doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds,” Commissioner Kelli Glass-Leighton said.

    If right turns are still allowed off U.S. 1, there could be roundabouts on Palm City Road near U.S. 1, Indian Grove Drive, Manor Drive and Winnachee Drive, Capra said. The latter three streets connect Palm City Road and Kanner Highway.

    More landscaping and sidewalks could make the road more friendly to pedestrians, Capra said.

    “I don’t know about having three or four roundabouts,” Mayor Eula Clark said. “I’d like to see information on traffic volumes, how many are going straight down Palm City Road to get to Palm City.

    “I’d like to see the impact of the Indian Street bridge when it opens,” she said.

    Capra said a traffic circle near U.S. 1 is “just an idea.”

    “It would slow traffic before it gets on Palm City Road and people won’t want to go unless they have a real reason,” he said.

    The plans will be subject to more scrutiny and probably public hearings before city commissioners approach the county and state.

    Palm City Road is owned and maintained by the county but could be transferred to the city.

    Stone Creek opens store at the Crossroads Mall

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    There’s something new at the Crossroads Mall. Stone Creek Landscape Nursery Inc., 2620 200th St., has opened a showroom and store at 117 S. 25th St., a location that for many years housed a Blockbuster video store.

    The outlet is designed to make Stone Creek’s many offerings more readily visible to a wider audience of potential customers, said Shirley Seagren, co-owner of the company.

    “What motivated us was to bring some of our plant material to the hub of the shopping area,” Seagren said. “Because, when people go to the nursery, they are on a mission. They pretty much know what the want and why they are going there. We are probably missing a little bit of that spontaneous buyer. So, we decided to bring it here.”

    Article Photos

    -Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
    Stone Creek Landscape Nursery co-owner Shirley Seagren, left, along with Dani Doty, right, look through a book of landscaping ideas while surrounded by monuments featuring various branches of the armed services at their new retail location in the former Blockbuster building by the Crossroads Mall.

    Stone Creek’s Crossroads Mall store has only been in operation for a short time. It was launched March 22. Even so, Seagren said she is bullish about its potential.

    “The exposure is great,” she said.

    The new showroom displays a sampling of the much-more extensive plant selection available at Stone Creek’s nursery. Seagren said in addition to offering a variety of popular standards, Stone Creek has put an emphasis on stocking items that are not readily available elsewhere locally.

    “We look for unique items, whether it’s in the store or in the nursery,” she said. “We have a lot of different things that you probably wouldn’t find unless you ordered it.”

    The selection of plant material in the store reflects that approach.

    “What we have in this store right now are shrubs and perennials,” Seagren said. “New this year that you probably aren’t going to find anyplace else are potted perennials. We’re kind of replacing the hanging annual baskets with perennial baskets.

    She said customers are gravitating toward container planting in part because the plants can be moved around. Additionally, the potted perennials have the advantage that they can be planted in the fall.

    More than plants

    The new store has a diverse array of products. Seagren said she and her co-owner husband, Dell Seagren, decided to feature in the Crossroads Mall outlet only products made in the United States

    “We’ve got the plant material,” Seagren said. “We’ve got outdoor, made-in-the-USA, maintenance-free lawn furniture. And we’ve got our own line that we’ve designed and manufactured of metal yard decor.”

    The lawn furniture is something that is very much in sync with today’s emphasis on environmentally friendly merchandise.

    “It’s made from recycled milk jugs by a company in Minnesota,” Seagren explained. “It is guaranteed for 35 years not to fade, rust or crack.”

    She also said the contoured backs and seats of the chairs make them a more comfortable fit for the human body than are some competing products on the market.

    The metal yard decor is not only made in the USA, it’s produced right here in Fort Dodge.

    “We design it and have it manufactured in Fort Dodge,” Seagren said.

    She said this product line was added by Stone Creek this year.

    “We’ve searched for the last two seasons to find American-made metal decor and we couldn’t find it,” Seagren said, explaining the company’s decision to produce metal decor items locally.

    Decorative stones are also proving a big seller for Stone Creek.

    “We’ve got our poured-concrete stones that are made in Iowa,” Seagren said. “They are made in the Des Moines area.”

    She said these items can be customized vis-a-vis size and the message they convey. Particularly popular are decorative stones that celebrate the collegiate background of the homeowner.

    Consistent with the made-in-the-USA theme, the store even offers a line of jeans produced in Texas that are 100 per cent American-made. “The cotton is grown here,” Seagren said. “The thread is made here, and the rivets that are on the back of the jeans are also made in the USA.”

    Wall of Honor

    Anyone who visits the store will quickly discover that it also features a commemorative Wall of Honor.

    “That’s for all military to come in and sign the wall,” Seagren said. “I would really like to make people aware of our Wall of Honor. It’s part of what Stone Creek is. … I love to talk to military people. Their stories are awesome. … I would like to get 500 names on that wall before Memorial Day and 1,000 by July 4.”

    She said the Wall of Honor is way to pay tribute to people who have served the nation in the military in years gone by or are serving now.

    About Stone Creek Landscape Nursery

    Stone Creek Landscape Nursery, founded less than a decade ago, has become a multifaceted enterprise.

    It offers extensive landscaping services, has a large garden and nursery, provides an array of irrigation options and markets yard and patio furniture and a variety of decorative products to enhance lawns, gardens and patios.