12 hours ago  |   

View All Multimedia

<!—->

12 hours ago 

‘));
jwplayer(“UIVDO”).setup({
stretching: “uniform”,
flashplayer: “/portals/_default/skins/zuza/resources/player.swf”, skin: “/portals/_default/skins/zuza/resources/blueratio.zip”,
image: ” + _$adActive.attr(‘vdoBG’) + ”, width: 542, height: 275, file: ” + _$adActive.attr(‘vdoURL’) + ”,
‘events’: { onReady: function () { jwplayer(‘UIVDO’).play(); } }
});
}
} else {
$(‘.ad-image-wrapper’).css({ ‘display’: ‘block’ });
$(‘div#UIVDO, div#UIVDOWRAP’).remove();
}
}
});

Beach Mirror

by DANIELA PITEO

Toronto city staff and neighbourhood residents bandied about ideas March 20 at the Frankland Community Centre regarding the upcoming revitalization of Withrow Park’s south area grounds.

Alex Mut, a landscape architect with the City of Toronto, presented potential uses for the playground and invited ideas from residents and their children.

“The park has a nice canvas to do something exciting,” said Mut, but remarked the neglected grounds are due for a major facelift.

“It seems to be the lesser-known playground or, at best, the playground with the swings because that is all it has to offer,” Mut said.

The playground, on the west side of Logan Avenue in Riverdale, will receive new equipment and landscaping with funding from the city’s capital projects and an additional levy from Parks and Recreation. The project has a budget of $250,000.

A presentation of potential uses for the land was displayed for residents and children to examine followed by an interactive group workshop allowing small groups of people to share their ideas with the city.

According to Mut, it was important children were included in the process and he said he was pleased that several parents brought their kids out to the meeting.

“I think it is very important to get a full range of ideas, obviously we can’t accommodate everyone’s ideas, but to hear them all and learn about the park is very valuable,” Mut said.

The feedback will be gathered, refined and again presented to the community for further discussion.

The selection process will transpire over various stages of planning and presented to the community in subsequent meetings.

“We will review the information gathered tonight and determine where the priorities seem to be,” Mut said.

Longtime resident Sandra Lester said she was excited to be a part of the process and put forth an array of ideas.

“I’d like to see interactive, naturalized learning so kids can learn about science, nature, issues like producing your own power and pumping your own water. I’d like them to feel empowered to interact with their own landscape,” Lester said.

Her focus, which strongly appealed to all present at the meeting, centred around educational and environmentally responsible play with an emphasis on adventure and fun for children of various ages.

“I’ve been in the neighbourhood for a very long time, over 20 years. I remember being a nanny in this neighbourhood and a little girl, who is now in a master’s program, climbing on equipment that is still in the park. That means this equipment is over 20 years old and it hasn’t changed since then.

“It’s time to revitalize it. My son is getting to the upper age limit, he’s nine, and I think kids should still play a lot at nine, but he’s not finding it adventurous anymore. There’s a lot of opportunity to do something really different here,” Lester said.

Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher was also on hand to take note of what her constituents had to say.

According to Fletcher, a common complaint is that city equipment has been dumbed-down, so the city is working toward finding equipment that is both fun and challenging.

“I think adults pick pieces of equipment that they think look interesting and then the kids have to say, ‘That’s the one I like,’” Fletcher said.

Mut and city staff will work toward compiling the information garnered from the meeting and present a conceptual design by late April.

AFRICAN VIOLET SALE: Three Dallas-area violet societies will host the annual judged show and sale. Members also will offer growing advice and instructions. 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Growing African violets workshop,10 a.m. Saturday; growing gesneriads, 2 p.m. Saturday. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. Free.

ROSES: The monthly meeting of the Dallas Rose Society will include a presentation on Fortuniana grafted roses by champion rose growers from Arkansas. 7 p.m. Friday. Farmers Branch Recreational Center, 14050 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch. Free. 972-727-3007.

OWL PROWL: The Indian Trail Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists and Midlothian parks are co-hosting a night hike and owl prowl. 8:30 p.m. Friday. 1361 Onward Road, Midlothian. Free, but advance registration requested. 972-291-2868.

GARDEN ED: Free classes at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. 214-363-5316. nhg.com. Lawn care, noon Saturday Peonies, 1 p.m. Saturday

ROSE FESTIVAL: The rose festival will include a variety of roses to buy, including antique, English, climbing, hybrid, Knock Outs and more. Rose experts will answer questions and share advice from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Festival is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Calloway’s locations in North Plano, 2460 State Highway 121; South Arlington, 4940 S. Cooper; and Hurst, 760 Grapevine Highway. A rose clinic describing best practices is 10:15 a.m. Saturday at all Calloway’s locations. Free. calloways.com.

URBAN CHICKENS: Learn about caring for chicks and nurturing them to adulthood. Class also will cover housing, feeding, watering and proper hygiene. Marshall Grain Co. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, 2224 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, and 1 p.m. Saturday, 3525 William D. Tate, Grapevine. Free. marshallgrain.com.

NATIVE PLANTS: Learn how to create a sustainable landscape with native plants from well-known North Texas practitioner Gailon Hardin. Redenta’s Garden. 10 a.m. Saturday, 111 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, and 2 p.m. Saturday, 2001 Skillman St., Dallas. Free. redentas.com.

ARBORETUM EDUCATION: Upcoming classes at the Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. Advance registration required. dallasarboretum.org. Bulb trial walking tour, 9 a.m. Saturday, $25 Container gardening, 9 a.m. Saturday, $48

DROUGHT-TOLERANT LANDSCAPE: Two free landscaping seminars will cover ideas for installing drought-tolerant yards. Water-wise landscape design will be 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Suitable plants for North Texas will be 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The first 100 attendees at each session will receive a copy of landscape designer Bonnie Reese’s book, Common-Sense Landscaping. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. Reservations required. 214-670-3155. savedallaswater.com.

WETLANDS: Learn about the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville at a meeting of the Indian Trail Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists. 7 p.m. Monday. Red Oak Library, 200 Lakeview Parkway, Red Oak. Free. 972-825-5175.

ROSE LIBRARY: The Dallas Area Historical Rose Society’s monthly meeting will include a presentation on the 25 books rose gardeners should own. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Farmers Branch Recreational Center, 14050 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch. Free. 972-620-1131.

POLLINATORS AND PROPAGATION: Learn about pollinators and propagation at the monthly meeting of the Grapevine Garden Club. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Stacy Furniture, Community Room, 1900 S. Main St., Grapevine. Free. grapevinegardenclub.org.

BUNCHGRASS PRAIRIE: The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas’ monthly meeting will include a presentation on the largest bunchgrass prairie in North America. 6:30 p.m. March 28. Texas Woman’s University, Ann Stewart New Science Building, Denton. Free. npsot.org/trinityforks.

HERBS: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club welcomes Texas magazine publisher Judy Barrett for a presentation on herbs and how they can be used in the garden, kitchen and around the home. 6:30 p.m. March 28. REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, west of the Dallas North Tollway. Free.

IKEBANA DEMONSTRATION: A presentation on creative ikebana, featuring sogetsu trends and techniques, will be offered this month. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28. Bent Tree Country Club, 520 Westgrove Drive, Dallas. $45 or $65. Advance registration requested. 214-750-7236 or email sallyshockey@sbcglobal.net.

SQUARE-FOOT-GARDENING: Learn how to grow vegetables in a raised box. This class will offer tips for square-foot-gardening in Texas and working with a small space. 9:30 a.m. to noon March 30. 1106 Almond Drive, Mansfield. Advance registration required. 682-234-3873 essentialsforenduringhealth.com.

BECOME A MASTER GARDENER: The Dallas County Master Gardeners are accepting applications through May 28 for the 2013 Master Gardener Training School. Classes will meet 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, July 29 through Oct. 28. In addition to the 78 hours of class time, participants must contribute a minimum of 72 hours of approved volunteer work through the DCMG over 12 months. Applications are available at dallascountymastergardeners.org or by calling 214-904-3053.

WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE: Enter the 19th annual Water-Wise Landscape tour. The event, which is sponsored by Dallas Water Utilities, is open to all landscapes within Dallas city limits and the city limits of Dallas’ wholesale customers or reciprocal cities. Judging criteria includes design (aesthetic appeal; composition; use of color and plant variety) , water conservation (water use; non-vegetative materials such as fences, walls, walks; use of native or adapted plants; reduced turf area; and use of mulches) and appropriate maintenance landscape (healthy, disease- and pest-free plants; no weeds; plants pruned as appropriate). Entry deadline is April 12. Visit savedallaswater.com to apply online. Entries will be judged in mid-April. The public tour of landscapes will be June 1.

AZALEA TRAIL: See 10 miles of azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers in Tyler during its 54th annual event. Friday through April 7. 315 N. Broadway, Tyler. Complimentary visitor packets are available by calling 1-800-235-5712 or at visittyler.com.

ROAD TRIP: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will host a public plant sale. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 and 14. 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin. For a list of plants that will be offered, visit wildflower.org.

Submit calendar information at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date to garden@dallasnews.com.

• 
  Home, Remodeling Garden Show 2013

Talk about it

Looking for fresh ideas in new home building, home remodeling and improvement, home decorating, design, and landscaping? With over 60 vendors at the upcoming St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association Home, Remodeling Garden show you’ll be able to gather a multitude of ideas to help you create your dream home—from the ground up or by re-inventing the home you’re in!

Find everything you need under one roof at the Hudson Sports Civic Center on Hanley Road in Hudson. The show will be open to the public on Friday, March 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From top to bottom, inside and out — finding the right contractor and company for your project has never been so easy! At this event you will find home building and remodeling, landscaping, garden and lawn care, designs and trend ideas, windows, doors, floors and more! Come get new refreshing ideas for 2013 and first hand information from our builders, remodelers and subcontractors about your new home construction or your home projects…all under one roof!

Get expert advice! Don’t miss this great opportunity to speak directly with the St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners about any planting issues we may experience this spring, ways to combat your worst weed nightmares and much, much more! Take advantage of our onsite demonstrations and seminars on Saturday including topics such as conquering the clutter, design and remodeling trends for 2013 and easy ways to keep your home in tip-top shape.

Make it a family event! Bring the kids for a fun filled day complete with a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Prizes, prizes, prizes! We are proud to have vendor-sponsored prize give-aways as well as multiple cash prizes this year. The drawing for the grand prize will take place on Saturday at 3:45 pm. Winner need not be present to win, however, must present winning ticket upon grand prize collection.

The 2013 show is made possible by the St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association, its Home Show Committee and major sponsors, Erskine Interiors, County Materials, Xcel Energy and WESTconsin Credit Union, Admission is $4 at the door and children under 18 are free.

For questions or additional information, please contact Bonnie McCormack at 715-796-5377

Tags:
area news, news, business, hudson, events

More from around the web