After spending half a million dollars to fix approximately 50 rain gardens in Sunset Hill, the city plans to install its largest non-residential rain garden yet outside a Ballard church.

The City of Seattle spent nearly $2 million last year on rain gardens aimed at keeping runoff and sewage out of the Puget Sound. Ten blocks of rain gardens were installed throughout Ballard as part of a pilot project. But several months later Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) ended up tearing out one third of the gardens because neighbors either didn’t like them or they were creating nasty floods. Another third had to be fixed, which cost SPU an additional $500,000.

Despite the failures and costly repairs, the city is trying again. SPU will install the city’s largest non-residential rain garden – the Trinity Rain Garden – at Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave. N.W.

The garden, designed by Back To Nature Design, LLC, will filter rain water from 5,000 square feet of roof area, 2700 square feet larger than the city’s largest residential rain garden. The rain garden includes native, food-producing plants and trees, as well as a rain water cistern for irrigating the church garden.

“Part of the mission of Trinity United Methodist Church is to be an advocate for social justice issues. Our Judeo-Christian tradition teaches us to be caretakers of the earth and in Seattle that means caring for our streams and Puget Sound,” says Pastor Kathleen Weber. “Installing a rain garden is the perfect reminder of our commitment to environmental justice and sustainability.”

SPU says they have now fixed the problems and worked out the kinks found during the first phase of the Ballard Roadside Raingardens project, and recent testing is helping make sure everything is working properly.

“Pilot projects are designed to learn how technology is going to function. Although we have used rain gardens in other projects around the city this is the first time we have used the technology to help control sewer overflows,” said PSU spokesman Andy Ryan.

The Trinity Rain Garden will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and blessing on Sunday, September 30 at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

“The city is pleased that Trinity United Methodist Church has chosen to participate in the RainWise program on such a grand scale. We look forward to installing more installations like it across Seattle,” says Spencer.

Currently, residents living in the Ballard, Windermere, Delridge, and North Union Bay CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) basins are eligible to participate in the RainWise Program. Residents of these areas can receive rebates covering most of the cost of installing a rain garden or cistern.  Plans are underway to expand the RainWise program during 2013 to eleven additional areas, increasing to 45,000 the number of rain garden eligible households in Seattle.

Philly.com comments are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.

If you see an objectionable post, please report it to us using the “Report Abuse” button.

More About Philly.com comments.

About your comments: These comments are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable.

Personal attacks, especially on other participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. Comments that are very long, have multiple paragraph breaks, or include coding may not be posted.

There is a chill in the air this week and as a self confessed fan of autumn, I think this is the perfect excuse to make your home a warm and cosy place to be. There are lots of gorgeous home accessories that are perfect for the winter months and will add a dash of style as well as comfort so as the summer days fade, light the fire and embrace the change in the seasons.

 

 

This gorgeous throw is perfect for watching the TV under or as an extra blanket for the bed. Rockett St George Chunky Aran Knit Throw £49 135cm x 135cm, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk.

 

 

Stylish and practical, this zinc log basket will enhance any hearth and ensure you have enough logs to last all evening! Cox and Cox Zinc Log Basket £50, www.coxandcox.co.uk.

 

 

I just love this fur trimmed cushion with the seasonal ski scene. If it is put away for the summer months, it will be sure to raise a smile when it is brought out again for winter. Pierre Frey Tyrol cushion £280, www.pierrefrey.com.

 

 

Sink into soft sheepskin with this inviting bean bag from The White Company. Designed to mould to your shape, it is also easy to move so you can get even closer to the fire! The White Company sheepskin bean bag £950, www.thewhitecompany.com.

 

 

A fantastic alternative to regular firelighters, these natural pinecones are scented with cinnamon and spices so will smell lovely as well as getting your fire blazing. £13 for 12, Not on the High Street from Hunter Gatherer, www.notonthehightstreet.com.

 

 

Bringing light into your home is even more important as the nights draw in and candlelight is always a lovely option. I love these little alphabet votives as they allow you to get creative with your messages. Not on the High Street from The Letteroom, www.notonthehighstreet.com.

 

 

A rug is a great accessory, whatever time of year it is but I think this wonderful goat skin rug from The Rug Company is particularly inviting when the weather is chilly. The Rug Company Como rug £420 per metre, www.therugcompany.info.

 

(01223) 479434

Architect Juli Capella was tasked by the city of Barcelona to design a vertical garden to cover a nearly 70-foot-high windowless wall (left over after an adjacent building was demolished).

Instead of creating a typical living wall that simply covered the existing surface with plants, he constructed a piece of architecture (or “vegitecture”) that acts like any conventional building, with a door, stairs and floors. But unlike any other building, it has plants for walls.

Unlike other vertical gardens that require a crane to fertilize or replace plants, gardeners simply climb the stairs and, aided by a pulley-system and swappable planter boxes, can keep the vertical garden in an ever-green state. A drip irrigation system keeps water use low and upkeep at a minimum.

It acts as a huge steel tree: it provides oxygen, filters the air, shades the neighboring building and provide a home for nearly a dozen bird species (complete with nesting boxes), as well as for geckos and bats.

This type of vegitecture, like any other living wall, is expensive to build, explains Montserrat Prado Barrabés, an architect with Institut del Paisatge Urbà (the city group that commissioned the project), but she assures it is cheap when it comes to maintenance.

Given my experience climbing the 8 floors with a bulky camera bag, I don’t doubt that it doesn’t take much more to upkeep than any other urban garden. Now just add some vegetables and it might start to resemble a prototype for skyscraper farming.

Watch Kirsten’s feature-length documentary on tiny homes: “We the Tiny House People: Small Homes, Tiny Flats Wee Shelters in the Old and New World.”

Follow Kirsten Dirksen on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/kirstendirksen

A floor full of exhibits, Dueling Designers and the chance to win a Clemson or USC playhouse will highlight the 4^th Annual Fall Southern Home Garden Show Friday through Sunday at TD Convention Center in Greenville.

The event will be open from noon until 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors (55+), with children under 12 admitted free. Visitors who bring a canned good to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank will receive $1 off admission. Parking is free.

More than 200 exhibitors displaying products and services for home building, buying, remodeling, landscaping and decorating will be available. There are daily how-to seminars on painting, tiling and fall planting.

Interior designers from Bogari, ID Studio Interiors, The Galleries of Brian Brigham and SH Designs each will tackle a 15 x 15 foot space, putting their best ideas forward in a design competition that will benefit charities.

Call 864- 254-0133 or visit www.HBAofGreenville.com.

 

Highlights:

• Holidays are highly popular when the creative staff goes all out with unusual décor. Halloween is a big hit with all sorts of scary amusements that head designer Eric Cortina layers on with skeletons and spider webs.
• For serious gardeners, Roger’s Gardens’ weekend seminar series are well attended with talks about gardening, food and design from experts such as Cristin Fusano, Steve Goto, Pat Welch, Jamie Durie and others.
• Experts are always on hand to help out gardeners. “Our rosarian is Laure Chaffin, a renowned rose breeder, and our bulb expert is Steve Hampson, the regional vice president of the American Daffodil Society,” general manager Ron Vanderhoff said.

Claim to fame: Roger’s Gardens is a garden center first and tourist destination second. Gardeners from all over the region, plus tour buses galore, stop in and see what Roger’s Gardens, located on seven acres, has in store at its gift shops, fresh floral bars, furniture levels and garden center. Roger’s went organic in 2007 and launched a California Friendly Landscapes program to promote and encourage homeowners to garden sustainably. “We are unique in our natural and organic approach and you won’t find that at other large nurseries,” Vanderhoff said. More, Rogers Gardens has led by example. It reduced its electricity consumption by 35 percent by installing fuel cells, eliminated runoff with smart-watering technology and relandscaped the grounds with low-water plants.

Did you know? Roger’s Gardens has food trucks on weekends serving fare from Lobsta, SoHo Taco, KogiBBQ, SeaBirds, The LimeTruck and more.

– By CINDY MCNATT
, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A spectacular view of a Hampton’s style home and gardens, nestled in the hills of Montecito, commands a visit. This showcase house is a creative effort between designers, landscape architects and developers Joanie and Dennis Franz, the actor most famouse for “NYPD Blue”. Proceeds will benefit The Junior league of Santa Barbara, a non-profit community organization dedicated to helping women and children in need (Russ McConnell -top exterior photo)

Having participated and coordinated various showcases homes myself, I understand the tremendous effort and dedication required to launch and open the doors to the public. My focus while visiting the home was to see how top Southern California’s designers are incorporating this traditional setting with the vibrancy of color being used in today’s contemporary design.

The property is situated on 1.62 acres with mature oak trees, stone walls, an outdoor kitchen, loggia and cabana, Bright pops of color invite one to sit in this very comfortable, oversized sitting area located just outside the covered loggia.

Kitchen and family room, contrast in bold use of wall color in the family room with the lightness of calacatta polished marble used in the kitchen. (photo credit: Russ McConnell – family room.). You will notice the use of many interesting tile patterns throughout the house. Polished brick mosaic of 2-inch by 4-inch calacatta, adorn the stove backsplash. (kitchen breakfast area).

Sunlight radiates through the silk striped window treatments in the front sitting room. Wallpapered walls, vintage and modern accessories are blended effectively. This room is period appropriate while combined with modern boldness. Professional interior designs bring ultimate results to any home. (sitting room, photo credit – Russ McConnell)

Pale ocean blues set the mood in the outdoor cabana. A custom upholstered headboard with light airy linens, contrast with the dark hardwood floors and tongue and groove ceiling with exposed beams. You will notice throughout this home the use of wood or tile flooring and NO wall to wall carpet. “Area rugs are much easier to maintain and replace when you change your color palette or just want to refresh a room.”

There are two guest bedrooms. Serene wall colors with use of woven shades for light diffusion combined with draperies for complete privacy in the lower level guest bedroom. The second story guest bedroom has an architecturally interesting vaulted ceiling featuring a dark espresso and earth tone color palette. (two guest bdrs. photo credit – Russ McConnell)

A well designed and beautiful nursery has walls that are finished in a periwinkle blue and white fabric.

Santa Barbara Design House and Gardens is filled with a plethora of ideas for the homeowner.

Take a peek at the three bathrooms shown here. You will notice the use of wallpaper, fabric window treatments, interesting tile patterns and contrast of bold colors with soft grey’s.

Invest in a breathtaking drive up the coast to Santa Barbara and take in this award-winning project For more information on products, designers and to purchase tickets go to: www.sbdhg.com

The Showcase house is open through Oct. 7. Purchase tickets online or at the door for Thursday through Sunday tours.

(Genoveve Serge is a local interior designer. She can be reached at 805-499-8998 or send e-mail to: genoveve@gs-interiordesign.com)

Garden designer Clint Kenny holds a rare buff orpington rooster for (from left) Evie Noonan, Anastasia Topalov and Archie Noonan at the Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival in Queens Park as part of Carnival of Flowers 2012 on Saturday.

MULTI-TASKING was a must-have skill for Warwick’s own celebrity gardener Clint Kenny at the Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers at the weekend.

Revellers wined and dined the day away while the acclaimed green-thumb whittled the hours away beside his showpiece – a thriving home garden with homemade chicken coop.

He spent less time at the gourmet food stalls than others, but he had plenty on his plate.

He fielded a bombardment of questions from soil-savvy punters, all the while cradling a whopping – and rare – buff orpington rooster under his arm.

“There’s a big push in the UK to try and bring back old breeds that are nearing extinction,” he explained.

“The display for my landscape and garden design business is really about promoting Warwick and encouraging people to grow their own vegetables, with a focus on permaculture.

“People have been really interested to learn what they can do at their own home.

“It’s not hard to do, but it takes a lot of time to get it right.”

BELVIDERE — University of Illinois (U of I) Extension horticulture educator Rhonda Feree will explain how to create a tea garden at 1 p.m. Tuesday and 7 p.m. Thursday at the new U of I Extension-Boone County office, 205 Cadillac Court, Unit 3, Belvidere.

Ferree will cover several types of tea gardens and their design components. The various plants used to make tea will also be covered. The program will be presented live via the University of Illinois telenet system. There will be time for discussion between the presenter and attendees. Cost is $5.

For more information or to register, call the U of I Extension office at 815-544-3710 or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo.

Troll for ideas, inspiration, contractors and products for your next home improvement project at the Sonoma County Fall Home Show today and tomorrow.

The home improvement marketplace takes over the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for three days with everything from building supples, designers, landscapers and flooring to furniture, windows, window treatments, roofing, decks and gutter systems.

Twelve seminars will be held in Grace Pavilion covering topics like landscape design, solar energy, organic farming, rain harvesting and remodeling.

The Redwood Empire Masonic Officers Association will offer free child identification. Going on at the same time at the fairgrounds is the Redwood Empire Train Show, with model trains, steam train rides and food.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $7 with children under 12 free. Seniors 60 and up get in for $4 on Friday. Bring in a can or box of food for the Redwood Empire Food Bank for $2 off your admission. 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. scsshows.com.

SONOMA: Free seminar on winter gardens

Make the most of California’s mild climate by planting a winter garden. Garlic, onions, kale, chard and peas are among the edible crops that can be planted now.

Horticulturist Dawn Smith will give a free one hour talk at 11 p.m. Sept. 29 at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma on planting a winter garden that includes hands-on training. 23570 Arnold Drive Sonoma. For information rsvp to events@cornerstonesonoma.com or call 933-3010.

HEALDSBURG: Russian River Rose salutes heritage

Get your last whiff of the remaining roses at the Russian River Rose Co., which has some special events planned for their last open garden weekend of the year.

On Sept. 29 and 30 owners Michael and Jan Tolmasoff salute their Russian heritage and their “beloved Russian River” by serving rose cookies and aromatic Russian tea prepared in antique samovars. Visitors can sip while checking out a display of Russian antiques.

On Sept. 29 Michael “Karnak the Magnificent” and “Tanushka” Tolmasoff will do tea leaf readings — tongue in cheek, of course — at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

On Sept. 30 the Bulgarian singing group “Gradina” will perform Slavic and Russian folk songs at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The Tolmasoffs will debut their 2012 estate-produced rose oil perfume, “Rose Embrace,” with samples offered by wandering “maidens.” On Sunday the couple will share a display of antique atomizers.

Cost is $9.50, with a portion of the proceeds going to several local non-profits. 1685 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg. russian-river-rose.com or 433-7455.

SANTA ROSA: Learn about planting succulents

Succulents are the latest thing in garden design. Learn which varieties of these popular water-wise plants grow best in Sonoma County during a talk by expert Aaron Ryan before the Santa Rosa Garden Club on Sept. 24.

Ryan, who was assistant to the curator of succulents at the arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz, works for Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, where he propagates and oversees the nursery’s succulent display garden.

He will dispel some common misconceptions about succulents and give advice on propagation, as well as bring some special plants for sale.

The general public is invited to attend the free talk starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.

For information call 537-6885 or e-mail gardenevents@yahoo.com.

SANTA ROSA: Bargain seasonal plants at Willowside

Stock up on bargain plants for your fall garden at seasonal plants sales going on this month.

Willowside School in Santa Rosa holds its sale today with deals on Japanese maples, deodar cedars, hornbeam, olive trees, Trident maples, roses, hydrangeas, grasses, magnolias, elms, succulents, redwoods and more.

The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. 5299 Hall Road at Willowside, Santa Rosa. For information call 569-4724.

On Sept. 29 and 30 Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge Experiment Farm in Sebastopol holds an open house with unusual perennials for sale and master gardeners on hand to answer questions.

Visitors to the historic farm may also stroll the grounds where renowned horticulturist Luther Burbank did much of his work, as well as see the exhibits inside his cottage. There will also be firewood from a live oak to purchase. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Turn into the Burbank Heights and Orchards senior housing complex at 7777 Bodega Ave. and drive to the top of the hill. For information email erinsheff@ comcast.net or call 481-3488.

SONOMA: Valley of the Moon fall plant sale

The Valley of the Moon Garden Club is throwing its fall plant sale September 22, featuring hundreds of plants for the prime autumn planting season.

Stock up on flowering perennials, edible winter greens, herbs, succulents, ornamental grasses, flowering mums, coleus, bulbs, garden art and more from 9 a.m. to noon on Broadway at France Street in Sonoma.

SONOMA COUNTY: Free classes with Master Gardeners

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners have geared up for fall with a line-up of free classes on a wide variety of topics. For information on any class call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

On Sept. 22:

Producing Home Wine from Backyard Grapes: Dennis Przybycien explains how to make top quality wine from homegrown grapes. He will cover proper harvesting and step-by-step wine production, including the equipment you’ll need to get started. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m . at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

Pruning Fruit Trees: Denny Pedersen covers the tools you need and how to use them to shape your trees, as well as when to prune and what cuts to make. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.

Perennial Vegetables: Save time and money by growing your own perennial vegetables and small fruits, including artichokes, asparagus and berries. Learn how from Master Gardener Ann Chambers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma.

On Sept. 29:

Conquering Gophers and Moles: Has a new family of pocket gophers moved into your front lawn? Master Gardener Jim Lang will lead a free workshop on how to conquer burrowing pests. He will demonstrate the proper methods for trapping the varmints along with the common mistakes people make in setting the devices. He will also discuss the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of alternative ways of controlling them. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

Fall Floral Creations on a Budget: Learn the secrets of making easy wreaths, swags and table décor to grace your home using materials from your own garden or from those of neighbors and friends. Master Gardener Ellyn Pelikan will give ideas to spark your creativity without draining your bank account. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Healdsburg Library, 139 Piper St., Healdsburg.

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners are available to field questions. Their Santa Rosa information desk can be reached at 565-2608 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. They also man a desk in Sonoma at 938-0127 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They can be reached by email at mgsonoma@ucdavis.edu.

(You can direct Home and Garden news to Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.)