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OOPS! LAL CHOWK BEAUTIFICATION PROVES UGLY

Srinagar, Apr 24: What started amid hype as revival of lost glory by the ruling coalition the Lal Chowk Beautification has proved wastage of Rs two odd crores with state government finally discovering that the construction of the roadside park has chocked the heart of the City. It, however, took the concerned authorities some three years to realize the mistake, which for now is being rectified by razing the concrete landscape erected on the middle of the road.
But while the state government took lot of time and wasted a whopping amount to realize the error in its beautification decision, the stakeholders including shopkeepers had foreseen the mess and expressed reservations at the start of the project way back in 2010.
Though Greater Kashmir had highlighted the public hue and cry against the narrowing down of the historic Lal Chowk, no heed was paid to Aam Aadmis aspirations, while the authorities went ahead saying it was a prestigious project meticulously designed by the experts.

THE INNOVATIVE FIASCO
In January 2010, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah granted Rs two crore to revive glory of the City centre while the concerned MLA Amira Kadal and the then MOS Tourism and Housing and Urban Development departments, Nasir Aslam Wani, finalized the beautification plan.
As per the plan, a concrete park was to be constructed in the middle of the 100 odd feet road. But there erupted differences over commonsense. At a time when City craves for wide roads, narrowing down of the only wide stretch in the City centre was seen as ridiculous.
There was an outcry against the development. But the minister in charge seemingly paid no heed to the public aspirations and subsequently handed over the project execution to the Tourism department.
That time speaking on behalf of the government, the then District Development Commissioner, Meraj Ahmed Kakroo said the beautification plan had been developed by experts after thorough study. Its a well considered plan by architects and engineers, Kakroo is on record to have said.

SHEIKHS DREAM STAKES
Decades back the National Conference founder and the then Chief Minister Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had aspired that the road stretch between the Lal Chowk and adjoining Budshah Chowk be widened to bring the twin hubs closer.
In the present regime, with all the eight City MLAs belonging to the party, there was an 8/8 probability to fulfill his dream. Observers opined that the money granted by the Chief Minister for revival of lost glory of the City centre could serve as a token amount in making a step forward by procuring some of the structures coming in way of the proposed widening.
But what the government did was exactly the opposite. Sheikhs vision got buried under the concrete park.

COMMONSENSE PROVED RIGHT
As the park was constructed with metallic gazebos and benches on cemented landscaping, and the boundary wall of the Ghanta Ghat was expanded with stone foundation; Lal Chowk got more congested. And the traffic flow turned messier than ever before.
While shopkeepers kept complaining that unlike the past shoppers avoided visiting the marketplace due to little or no space for parking, traffic regulation remained a tough affair.

THE OFFICIAL SHYNESS
Realizing the problem, the authorities on Tuesday started demolition of the park carved out in steel and concrete. Using JCBs, shovels and tongs, portions of the landscaped park were uprooted in the morning hours. But to avoid embarrassment because of rollback in the much celebrated decision, sources said, the government top brass directed the officials to avoid commenting over the issue, though the park has been razed in full public gaze.
The Tourism department, which undertook the construction feigned ignorance about the demolition. I have no ideas, will have to confirm it, said Talat Ahmed, Director Tourism. The Roads and Building department, however, admitted that they undertook the demolition. Basically we are trying to explore as to how the road network in the area can be widened because there were complaints from the area shopkeepers that the park was creating parking problems, said a senior RB official, requesting not to be named.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE
Though the ruling National Conference often speaks of revival of lost glory of this historic City, its first such endeavor through construction of park on the middle of the main road looks ugly for now amid debris of the razed structure, though raised amid hype!

Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 IST

Spring set in motion

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As the weather warms (or pretends to), I’m starting to assemble my outdoor to do list. Last summer was our first with a yard of our own and I was decidedly ambitious about what I thought could be done, especially given the brown colour of my thumbs. As a result, I spent a lot of time weeding and cultivating the best way I know how, and an even more significant amount of time being annoyed with how everything looked.
So, I’m here to admit to you that I am going on a garden strike, or partial strike at least. I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t do any of it well, and in the end, my gardens and flower beds just make me sad and stressed when they’re in disrepair. Call me lazy … call me uninspired if you must, but I’m planning to do what I think is best, both for my curb appeal and my sanity.
Step #1: Two beds are going bye-bye. I need to practice a little more restraint and focus on smaller portions of the yard. Rather than big messes, I think these areas will be much more suited to grass.
Step #2: Figure out what all the plants are, then move or dispose of as necessary. I like some of what’s there already, so I plan to use those things elsewhere.
Step #3: Make everything prettier. This will start with some edging, some patio stones and bricks or decorative rocks … or whatever those things are called.
My main plan is to look at other people’s yards and copy their ideas. Sort of like Pinterest for landscaping.
What do you think? Please comment with your thoughts and ideas. I’ll be sure to post before and after photos as my lawn dream becomes a reality.
—
Be sure to pick up your copy of The Chronicle Herald Weekend this Saturday, which features Herald Homes. Starting this week, I’ll be sharing my experiences and interviews with experts in a new column called The More You Know, which will help to educate first-time homeowners like me on a bevy of house-related topics. I hope you enjoy and I look forward to your feedback at lbunin@herald.ca.

Prairie boulevards among suggestions for Huron

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HURON Landscape architecture students at South Dakota State University are recommending that the city of Huron create more appealing walkways along Dakota Avenue with prairie boulevards, offer cultural understanding with a new center and place an emphasis on biking with specific on-road lanes.

Nine students presented their ideas at the Monday luncheon of the Huron Sertoma Club, four months after starting the project with an on-site visit.

They inventoried all of the green spaces the city offers with its parks, school playgrounds and special use areas like the state fairgrounds, and evaluated neighborhood sidewalks in terms of their appeal and safety.

The overall goal is to suggest ways the city can create a more attractive environment for residents and visitors.

Student recommendations are included in a report that is available at City Hall.

They said the main crosstown thoroughfare, Dakota Avenue, has a lack of plant life and an abundance of concrete. In some places there are no sidewalks, and those on foot must walk through parking lots.

The students are proposing prairie boulevards of plant life grown between the sidewalk and the avenue, using native flowers and buffalo grass. Benches and trash receptacles could also be added.

Huron is a prairie town and creating such an atmosphere along the citys busiest street would preserve that heritage, they said.

Establishing a cultural center would provide an opportunity for cultural learning and understanding.

It could be a place for classes for cultural integration and allow the Karen people to have a memorial for friends and family members left behind.

The students suggested acquisition of a large vacant building adjacent to the railroad tracks on Dakota Avenue, or upper level space in a downtown building.

Funding sources could be donations, a public-private partnership, a small temporary sales tax or grants from the National Trust Preservation fund.

But the students conceded that funding would be a major challenge and that the community needs to come together if it wants to move forward on their ideas.

For the city parks, they recommended sustainable landscaping for Riverside Park because of its presence in the flood plain. They suggested some kind of green buffer between Winter and Campbell parks, and have sustainable landscaping in the downtown area. The city should consider establishing new parks in the newly developing areas, such as near Wal-Mart and near Ravine Lake in northeast Huron.

They define active transportation as any mode of travel other than motorized vehicles. Huron already has five miles of trails and they recommended that effort continue with multi-use trails and bike lanes.

Having specific on-road bike lanes in the downtown area would mean the elimination of parallel parking, and that would be a hard sell for business owners, they agreed.

For the complete article see the 04-23-2013 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 04-23-2013 paper.

Garden Exhibitors Will Create “Zen-ful” Inspirations at the 2013 Newport …

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Exhibitors Prepare an Asian Awakening at the 18th Annual Newport Flower Show

Newport, RI (April 23, 2013) – With the theme Jade: Eastern Obsessions, the 18th annual Newport Flower Show will take visitors on an exotic tour of Far Eastern traditions and beauty. From June 21 – 23, the expansive front lawn of Rosecliff will once again be filled with breathtaking garden displays, offering inspiration and insight for those looking to add color and charm to their own gardens. Six regional landscape companies will transform the historic grounds of Rosecliff into tranquil sanctuaries that reveal the Eastern cultures of India, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Cambodia and China.

Bartlett Tree Experts, Presenting Sponsor of the Newport Flower Show, will provide a selection of Asian trees that will be displayed in planters around the front lawn. Bartlett will also host a special garden pavilion on the front lawn featuring a Chinese moongate and topiary dragon leading guests toward the front door of Rosecliff and the floral, horticulture and photography divisions of the Show. Aardvard Antiques of Newport will provide monumental statuary for areas of the front lawn as well.

Six landscape designers will create individual Eastern-themed gardens throughout the front lawn, each including garden statuary reflecting their country’s theme loaned by Schneible Fine Arts of Shelbourne, VT.

Inspired Design of North Kingstown, RI will create an Indian-influenced garden. Principal Karen Barbera was the winner of the Chairmen’s Award for exceptional design and horticulture in a display garden as well as the Garden Club of America Award of Distinction in Education at the 2012 Newport Flower Show.

Crystal Brinson Horticulturist of Fairhaven, MA, a partnership of Crystal Brinson and Kenneth Jardin, will create a Cambodian garden, with an elephant statue to symbolize the spirit of the Cambodian people, while trees and shrubs within the garden signify the family unit. Crystal Brinson won an Environmental Vision Award at the 2013 Boston Flower Show, the URI Master Gardener Association Sustainable Garden Award at the 2012 Newport Flower Show, and the Mrs. Samuel M.V. Hamilton Award at the 2010 Newport Flower Show.

Magma Design Group, Inc. of Pawtucket, RI will create a garden that reflects the Thai aesthetic of simplicity through the use of stone and planting. It will include a water feature and other stone elements influenced by the Japanese stone cutting technique known as wari modoshi. Neil and Samantha Best founded Magma Design Group in 2005. Together, they have received the Boston Society of Landscape Architects Award at the 2012 Boston Flower Show, the Landscape Design Award from the New England Wildflower Society in 2011, and the Exhibitor’s Choice Award at the 2010 Rhode Island Flower Show, among others.

Miskovksy Landscaping, Inc. of Falmouth, MA, will create a Japanese-inspired garden. Paul Miskovsky’s most recent awards include the People’s Choice Award at the New England Spring Flower Show and the Allen C. Haskell Award for Horticultural Excellence at the 2010 Rhode Island Spring Flower Show.

Verde Garden Designs of Newport, RI will create a tranquil garden taking inspiration from classic Korean gardens while blending a contemporary style and aesthetic. Verde Garden Designs is a landscape design studio and garden shop created by Pam Rodgers.

YardWorks, Inc. of Warwick, RI will bring the beauty and grace of Far Eastern traditions to life through the serenity of a Chinese-inspired garden. In business since 1978, YardWorks is a retail garden center and full-service florist, led by Kevin Fox.

The Newport Flower Show will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, June 22 23. Advance sale and Preservation Society member admission tickets are $18 per person. Tickets sold at the door will be $25 on Friday, $23 on Saturday or Sunday.

Also available by advance purchase through June 7 only is a special “Bring a Friend” ticket for Sunday, June 23, providing 2 adult admissions for $29.

One-day Show tickets for children between the ages of 13 and 17 are $6, and all children 12 and under are admitted free.

Admission to the Opening Night Party is $145 for Preservation Society members and $170 for non-members, if purchased before June 7. After that date, cocktail party admission will be $160 for members and $190 for non-members.

The Luncheon and Lecture series will headline internationally renowned floral artist Hitomi Gilliam on Friday and landscape architect Harriet Henderson on Saturday. Tickets for each Luncheon and Lecture are $80 per person. Lecture-only tickets are available for $40.

Free lectures and demonstrations by noted plant experts, flower designers and gardeners will also be presented throughout the weekend. For more information and to purchase tickets for the Newport Flower Show, visit www.NewportFlowerShow.org, or call (401) 847-1000.

Bartlett Tree Experts returns as Presenting Sponsor of the Newport Flower Show, which benefits The Preservation Society of Newport County. Additional sponsors include National Trust Insurance Services, Northern Trust, Brooks Brothers, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Southern New England, Atria Senior Living, United Airlines, BankNewport, Porsche of Warwick, Aardvark Antiques, East Coast Wholesale Flowers, and Design New England magazine.

With Newport’s largest private ballroom, Rosecliff was constructed in 1902 as a party pavilion for one of the leading society hostesses of the Gilded Age. This snow-white terra-cotta mansion, modeled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles, was created for Theresa Fair Oelrichs, heir to the Comstock silver lode in Nevada. It hosted many of the most fabulous entertainments of the period, including a fairy-tale dinner and a party featuring magician Harry Houdini.

All proceeds from the Newport Flower Show benefit the ongoing landscape restoration efforts of The Preservation Society of Newport County, a private non-profit organization accredited by the American Association of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts. Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

Wine country resort appeal refused

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{ story.summary|safe|escape }

A MASSIVE retirement complex that was earmarked for the gateway to Wine Country was rejected in the Land and Environment Court on Wednesday after it was deemed inconsistent with the location’s character.

Signature Gardens Retirement Resort had sought to build 177 units, 20 apartments, a care facility with 40 rooms and a manager’s residence on 44hectares at Pokolbin before the plan was refused consent by the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel last year, the court heard.

The developers appealed that decision, but lost on Wednesday. Commissioner Graham Brown ruled that the $55-million proposal was inconsistent with the location’s setting among the vineyards and farms west of Cessnock.

Cessnock City Council opposed the plan for a number of reasons, including that the land would be lost for future grape-growing and a lack of services for the proposed residents of the complex.

While Commissioner Brown dismissed the appeal because the development was ‘‘uncharacteristic’’ and ‘‘inconsistent’’ with the area, he said the council’s claims that the development would affect the tourist trade was not a sufficient reason to reject the project.

The complex was to be built over 16 stages along Marrowbone and Oakey Creek roads. It was met with fierce opposition from surrounding vineyards.

The initial proposal pitched four years ago was for more than 200 two-bedroom homes as well as the hostel, manager’s residence and other buildings.

Signature Gardens proposed a number of earthworks and landscaping to try to reduce the impact of the development, but Commissioner Brown said he was not satisfied that those works would adequately address those issues.

The owners of the neighbouring vineyards also opposed the length of time the complex would have taken to be built, which could have been up to 10 years.

Most spectacular start to spring you’ll ever see: Enchanting tour of the world …

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By
Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED:

07:48 EST, 24 April 2013

|

UPDATED:

09:24 EST, 24 April 2013

More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths will make a spectacularly British display at the largest spring garden in the world.

The 80-acre exhibition near the town of Lisse, south-west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, known as Keukenhof, is described as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

This year the theme is ‘The United Kingdom – Land of Great Gardens’.

Rite of spring: Keukenhof, the world’s largest
flower garden, has opened for its 64th consecutive year of spectacular
flower shows

Bloomin’ lovely: The 80-acre exhibition near the
town of Lisse in the Netherlands, is described
as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world

Purple haze… and pink, and green: The garden
was established in 1949 to present a flower exhibit where growers from
all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids – and to
help the Dutch export industry. The Netherlands, known for its tulips, is the world’s largest exporter of flowers

Tulips: More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths have been planted for the Keukenhof show this year

The Garden of Europe: The Keukenhof site plays host to flowers of many different varieties

Keukenhof – also known as the Garden of Europe – is the world’s largest flower garden and has exhibited every spring for 64 years.

This year it was decided to dedicate the garden to the UK, raise attention to the significance Britain as a gardening nation and as an export market for flower bulbs.

The centrepiece of the flower show is a blossoming mosaic of blooms made up of 60,000 bulbs showing London’s iconic landmarks Big Ben and Tower Bridge.

Paul Arkwright, British ambassador to the Netherlands, last October planted the last of the bulbs to complete the mosaic, which will measure 13 by 33 metres when budded.

The ambitious work is a co-production with Britain’s world-famous Royal Horticultural Society.

‘The United Kingdom – Land of Great Gardens’: Britain has been chosen as the theme for this year and the centrepiece of the flower show is a blossoming mosaic of
blooms made up of 60,000 bulbs showing London’s iconic landmarks Big Ben
and Tower Bridge. You’ll have to visit to see it in its full glory

Tourist attracting: Some 70,000 British garden lovers are estimated to have passed through Keukenhof’s gates last year

So much to see: The sprawling site also hosts an exhibition of statuary curated by Dutch artist Ansèl Sandberg

Full of the joys of spring: Two women leap in the air amid the fields of tulips at Keukenhof

Gardeners’ world: In addition to over 32
hectares of flowers, the spring garden offers 30 inspiring flower shows,
seven inspirational gardens and 100 works of art

Famous: Keukenhof has been the world’s largest flower garden for over fifty years. It opened to the public on March 21 and continues for eight weeks

Floating along: Visitors can also tour the expansive fields of flowers by guided boat tour

From the air: Keukenhof, which means kitchen
garden in Dutch, is situated on 15th century hunting grounds which also
served as a source of herbs for a local castle

The Juliana Pavilion will house the
exhibition ‘My Great Garden’, showing the various aspects of British
gardening and landscaping. Pictures, light, sound and setting will
result in a striking experience, organisers say.

Some 70,000 British tourists are estimated to have passed through Keukenhof’s gates last year.

In
addition to over 32 hectares of flowers, the spring garden offers 30
inspiring flower shows, seven amazing inspirational gardens and 100
wonderful works of art curated by Dutch artist Ansèl Sandberg.

Keukenhof, which means kitchen garden in Dutch, is situated on 15th century hunting grounds which also served as a source of herbs for Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut’s castle.

The garden was established in 1949 to present a flower exhibit where growers from all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids – and help the Dutch export industry.

The Netherlands, known for its tulips, is the world’s largest exporter of flowers.

Keukenhof has been the world’s largest flower garden for over fifty years. It opened to the public on March 21 and continues for eight weeks.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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Well worth a visit!

–

Auger Borer
,

East Midlands, United Kingdom,
24/4/2013 15:08

“Two women leap in the air amid the fields of tulips at Keukenhof.”……………… No, they don’t. The flowers in the fields they’re leaping in are full of hyacinths.

–

CherryPink
,

South Oxfordshire,
24/4/2013 15:02

Haven!

–

Larry
,

Hong Kong,
24/4/2013 14:57

Britain is so very beautiful!!!I just love The UK to bits and always had a dream to live there!!!

–

Jo
,

here, United States,
24/4/2013 14:51

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Gardening tips to help Bracknell blossom

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Alexandra Gregg • Published 24 Apr 2013 12:30

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South Yorkshire schoolgirl’s grand design clinches gardening title

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Designing a small garden to yield big results

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I recently moved to a home with acreage, but quickly realized that even large lots have small or quirky outdoor spaces that must be designed carefully and thoughtfully.

Fortunately, with attention to appropriate plant and variety choices, just about anything that can be done to dress up a larger space can be done on a smaller scale with equal success.

Even the smallest spaces can be made to appear larger with a few design tricks that fool the eye into thinking the space is bigger than it actually is.

Some ideas:

— Garden in layers. Layers give the illusion of more space than you really have. “Garden Up,” a book by California landscape designers Rebecca Sweet and Susan Morrison, recommends that we think in terms of three layers: top, middle and bottom. For the tallest layer, choose vines that naturally grow flat against a wall, vase-shaped plants or trees you can train or shape to allow plenty of room for planting beneath them.

In the middle layer, select plants that are 3-4 feet tall, with a vertical, light, open habit, such as perennials with tall flower stalks or finely textured ornamental grasses. The reason is how our eyes perceive depth. If we can see several things at once where we might otherwise only see one, it tricks the eye into thinking the space is bigger than it is, and gives the area a more overall lush feel.

The bottom layer should fill in the gaps and can offer multiseason interest. Select small-scale grasses, ground-hugging shrubs and compact perennials to visually anchor the bottom.

— Introduce color with non-plant selections. Depending on flower color to provide accent and impact in your design can be risky in a small space. Since every inch must count, a potentially underperforming flower display can diminish the impact, and even the most accomplished plant experts struggle here. Instead, bring in color through other objects, such as brightly painted furniture, accessories, wall objects or garden art.

— Ditch the dirt. With limited overall space, yielding some of that to a patch of dirt for planting may seem impractical, and it often is. Instead, consider making a limited outdoor space feel like a continuation of the indoors. That may include replacing dirt for brick pavers, tile or concrete. Then add an all-weather area rug to give the feel of another room. Add attractive planting containers of different shapes and sizes and fill them with a variety of plants and trees. You’ll have an instant garden, and another room to extend the living space.

— Maximize usable space. The recurring theme by all designers when it comes to making a small area look its best is to take advantage of every inch of space, especially vertical opportunities.

In just a glance, visitors may get the sense that they’ve seen all there is to see in a small garden. That can be disappointing. So keep it interesting and mysterious. Add other objects like a small water feature, or even a mirror to give the illusion the space continues. Tuck in a few surprises that require a more lingering stroll through the garden. Containers work very well, either as a focal point or when tucked discreetly in the back of a bed where they aren’t immediately on display. Other tricks include a garden path that leads beyond the field of view, even if it stops just around the corner. The eye is again tricked to thinking there is more than there actually is.

(Joe Lamp’l, host and executive producer of “Growing a Greener World” on PBS, is an author and a paid spokesman for the Mulch and Soil Council. Contact him at email@joegardener.com. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com. For more stories, visit shns.com.)

Eco-friendly, 15-acre rose garden designed around Presidential Center

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One of the most talked-about features at the George W. Bush Presidential Center has quickly become the Texas Rose Garden—a 15-acre park just outside the steps of the center’s full-scale replica of the Oval Office.

Despite the name, the garden’s design, in which former First Lady Laura Bush played an active role in, will not showcase a majority of roses. Rather, the focus has been placed on wildflowers native to Texas and many specific even to Dallas.

Project manager Herb Sweeney IV of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. told the Dallas Morning News that wildflowerswill be rotated seasonally and the colors schemes will match the essence of each season.

The garden will also utilize eco-friendly irrigation by collecting and reusing rainwater. The Bush Center itself earned the Platinum classification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is the “highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council,” as explained on the Bush Center website.

According to the project description by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, “the landscape…contributes to the Presidential Center’s ambitious sustainability objectives,” citing specifically the factors of “biodiversity, restoring native habitat, reducing the need for irrigation, and employing an organic maintenance program.”

The Texas Rose Garden joins the Bush Center as another cohesive facet that will be officially unveiled Thursday.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 IST

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Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT
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