PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The body of an elderly person was found in a pond in Palm Beach Gardens, according to Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue.

Palm Beach Gardens police said a landscaping crew made the discovery near Military Trail and Kyoto Gardens Drive.

There were no signs of foul play, according to police.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner will try and determine the identity and cause of death.

The story will be updated as more information becomes available.

 

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Check out the line up for this year’s Garden and Landscape Symposium. The event is on April 20th, 2013 a the Hillman Center for Performing Arts.

These are some heavy hitters in the gardening world.

For selfish reasons, I’m most excited about Bill Thomas coming to town. He runs one of my favorite gardens, Chanticleer, near Philadelphia.

I profiled him in my documentery The Gardens of Pennsyvania. Just seeing Bill speak is worth the price of admission. Sign up soon, this will sell out.

Here’s a link to the video about Chanticleer.

This is the news release with details on the event.

Phipps, Penn State Extension and Shady Side Academy event offers inspiration, advice and plants.

 

·         Whitney Cranshaw, a Colorado State University professor, specializes in pests and problems affecting Rocky Mountain plants, educating students on various entomological topics. His books include Garden Insects of North America, Pests of the West and the forthcoming Bugs Rule!

·         Kerry Mendez, an expert on low-maintenance perennial gardening and landscaping, works as a marketing professional, consultant, designer, writer, teacher and lecturer. She is the author of The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Top Ten Lists and Top Ten Lists for Beautiful Shade Gardens.  

·         Thomas Rainer, a landscape architect, teacher and writer, advocates for designs that interpret nature and feature native plants. He has designed garden landscapes nationwide, including those at the U.S. Capitol, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and The New York Botanical Garden.

·         R. William Thomas, executive director of Chanticleer near Philadelphia, leads the development of the young garden using an environmentally sensitive and multi-century approach. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in ornamental horticulture from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

·         Joseph Tychonievich, nursery manager for Arrowhead Alpine, has a love of plants that once sent him to Japan to work for Akira Shibamichi. He is the author ofCreating New Heirlooms: A Gardener’s Guide to Breeding Plants and holds a B.S. in horticulture from Ohio State University.

Taking place from 25-27 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the three-day event is hosted by Dubai Municipality, and has brought together more than 100 brands from around the globe involved in the creation of private and public outdoor areas.

With GCC governments keen to step up their efforts to create more ‘green’ spaces across the region, coupled with a resurgent GCC construction sector – where the value of new awarded projects is forecast to grow by 33% in 2013 to reach $64.5bn – the timing is perfect for the landscape and garden sectors to capitalize on a steady flow of increased opportunities.

Outdoor Design Build and Supply’s organizers, Streamline Marketing Group, estimate that about 10% ($6.4bn) of the value of the new construction contractor awards expected in 2013 will feed into the landscaping and exterior design sector, with the dedicated show providing the perfect setting for organizations to meet with thousands of key decision makers.

Thea Skelton, Project Director of Outdoor Design Build Supply, said, “The GCC construction surge we are now witnessing means billions of dollars are being spent on new housing complexes, hotels and resorts, leisure parks, shopping malls and various government infrastructure projects.”

“There will subsequently be a secondary boom for the landscaping sector, with numerous developments across the region requiring hundreds of square kilometers of outdoor landscaping,” he added.

“Over the next three days, exhibitors will be presented with the ideal opportunity to showcase their latest products and services to a targeted audience of Government and Urban Planning Officials, Public Parks and Horticulture Directors, Landscape Architects, Garden Designers, Contractors, Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, and Leisure Industry Destinations,” he concluded.

The first edition of Outdoor Design Build Supply features two-days of seminars taking place today and tomorrow (26 March), where leading industry players will deliver case study examples of best practice in green landscaping and infrastructure, delving into the unique challenges the Middle East faces in sustainable urban development.

Moderated by Geoffrey Sanderson, Principal Director of GCLA International and Kamran Seyed Azizi, President of the Emirates Society of Landscape, the sessions will cover topics including the growth of local plants and landscaping conditions in the GCC; golf course and sustainable irrigation; play equipment in outdoor environments; and sustainability in hotel landscaping.

Outdoor Design Build Supply has attracted organisations from all over the globe, including Australia, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, UK, and the USA. Many are looking to make their first foray into the Middle East market, such as Australian company Grass By The Metre, and Vitaroofs, an American manufacturer of green roofing systems, that designs and installs custom made roofs incorporating gardens and grasses.

Meanwhile local exhibitors at the dedicated showpiece include Barari Forest Management, the UAE‘s only company performing large scale relocation of native trees and fauna across the country; and the Gulf Rubber Factory, the Al Ain based used tyre recycling facility that recycles two million vehicle tyres annually, recycling 24,000 tonnes of the used rubber every year, and converting it into a wide range of outdoor environment applications.

Outdoor Design Build Supply is the only event in the Middle East to address the use of outdoor space in construction projects, supported by the largest buyers of outdoor products and services. Opening times are from 10:00am-6:00pm daily.

Busch Gardens announced Tammy Bennett from Washington, N.C., the winner of the first-ever Busch Gardens’ Landscaping Giveaway. Bennett’s prize is a yard landscaping package that includes consultation services from Busch Gardens’ horticultural professionals, landscaping and gardening supplies and landscaping installation, according to a news release.

“I am so excited and cannot wait for them to get started. Busch Gardens has the most beautiful flowers and gardens. Every time we go, I wish my yard would look like that,” said Bennett after learning she won the landscaping giveaway in a news release.

Busch Gardens announced the giveaway in early March via its Facebook page – facebook.com/buschgardens.

Entries came in from the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Participants submitted a photo of their home and a story about why they deserved to win the Busch Gardens’ Landscaping Giveaway. After reviewing hundreds of submissions, Busch Gardens narrowed the landscaping giveaway submissions down to 20 finalists.

According to Bennett’s submission, she purchased her dream home right after receiving a kidney transplant; her husband was her kidney donor. The Bennett family hoped to fix up their home right after purchasing it, but due to medical and financial hardships they had to put their dream on hold.

“We have been living here 6 1/2 years, this house was in foreclosure and it was a mess. There were trees and bushes growing into the side of our house and into the attic, we had to rip them all down. The lawn had not been mowed in a year, so it was pretty much knee high and mostly weeds. With all the money we spent on the inside of the house, we just never could afford to do the outside or any landscaping projects,” said Bennett.

After announcing the finalists, Busch Gardens invited its Facebook fans to cast their vote for their favorite finalist. Bennett received more than half of the 43,000 votes cast for the giveaway. Later this spring, the Busch Gardens team will visit the Bennett home to install the landscaping.

For 22 consecutive years Busch Gardens has won the “Most Beautiful Park” award from the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

Tammy’s entry:

“We bought our house right after my kidney transplant – my (lovely) husband generously donated me one of his kidneys, which I desperately needed. We thought with a second chance at life, we would buy a house and fix it up. And we started remodeling the house, but then we weren’t able to continue and do the outside due to financial stress. The financial burden of my anti-rejection medication, plus all our other medical bills meant the house would have to wait. Unfortunately, it’s still waiting and I would love a chance to win this!”

 

Posted by Kathy Van Mullekom; kvanmullekom@aol.com

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Mary Mary Quite Contrary used silver bells, cockle shells and pretty maids to help her garden grow, but Houstonians need sufficient irrigation, efficient drainage and hardy plants.

Or do they?

Darrin Duling, director of Mercer Arboretum Botanic Gardens in Humble, said people are often surprised to learn they can successfully plant a traditional Easter favorite – daffodils.

“For a long time people didn’t think daffodils could make it here, but now there’s quite a selection that has proven to be completely tolerant of humidity and blooms beautifully,” Duling said.

One such daffodil is the Tazetta, which ranges in color from rich gold to pale yellow and white.

Duling often recommends plants that have already been around the block a few times and survived at Mercer. For shrubs, he’s particularly pleased with a new group of azaleas called “Bloom-a-thon.” Not only are they relatively compact, he said, they’re quite floriferous.

If you’re into fauna, native mallow plants and salvias are the way to go. Drummond’s hibiscus is a particularly beautiful plant with red flowers.
Salvias flower almost year round, Duling said, but when it comes to waiting for other plants to bloom, patience is a virtue.

Now is the time to plant magnolias, although you won’t see the fruits of your labor until they flower, typically January through April.

‘They are graceful, spectacular, fast growing, very tough, and come in all sorts of colors,” Duling said.

Whatever you dig, here’s a general rule of thumb for green thumbs.

“Plan for the future,” Duling said. “Try to imagine how big some plants are going to be 20 years from now. If you choose something small because it will look gorgeous near the front door, 10 years later it might be eating your front door. Do a little homework first.”

Or you can leave it to the pros. Landscape architects will design and construct something beautiful yet functional.

Jeffrey Halper, president of Exterior Worlds, 1717 Oak Tree Drive in Houston, said there are a few steps to take before choosing plants. Is the purpose to provide screening? Shade? Backdrop beauty? The condition of a yard’s soil must also be considered, not to mention drainage and irrigation.

“On a residential landscape job, the actual planting aspect is typically only 30-40 percent,” Halper said.

And just because everything’s in the ground doesn’t mean the job is done. Regular and continued maintenance is necessary.

“Landscaping is not analogous to building a driveway where you pour it, walk away, and you’re done for 20 years,” Halper said. “It changes over time. It’s a living thing, so you have to keep working on it.”

Halper said the phrase “low-maintenance garden” is a little misunderstood, although there are several tips and tricks to pave the way. Visit the Galleria, 5085 Westheimer, for a cornucopia of information March 28-April 7during Primavera, a garden and floral celebration.

The event is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. For more information, call 713-622-0663 or visit www.galleriahouston.com and www.facebook.com/HoustonGalleria.

Outdoor design show opens in Dubai

Dubai, 10 hours, 19 minutes
ago

More than 100 brands from around the globe are participating in the first edition of Outdoor Design Build Supply, a dedicated landscaping and exterior design trade show, which opened in Dubai today.

Inaugurated by Salah Amiri, the assistant director general for Public Health and Environmental Services of the Dubai Municipality, the event will run until March 27 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With GCC governments keen to step up their efforts to create more ‘green’ spaces across the region, coupled with a resurgent GCC construction sector – where the value of new awarded projects is forecast to grow by 33 per cent in 2013 to reach $64.5 billion – the timing is perfect for the landscape and garden sectors to capitalise on a steady flow of increased opportunities, said event organisers Streamline Marketing Group.

It is estimated that about 10 per cent ($6.4 billion) of the value of the new construction contractor awards expected in 2013 will feed into the landscaping and exterior design sector.

Thea Skelton, project director of Outdoor Design Build Supply, said: “The GCC construction surge we are now witnessing means billions of dollars are being spent on new housing complexes, hotels and resorts, leisure parks, shopping malls and various government infrastructure projects.

“There will subsequently be a secondary boom for the landscaping sector, with numerous developments across the region requiring hundreds of square kilometres of outdoor landscaping.

“Over the next three days, exhibitors will be presented with the ideal opportunity to showcase their latest products and services to a targeted audience of government and urban planning officials, public parks and horticulture directors, landscape architects, garden designers, contractors, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and leisure industry destinations,” Skelton added.

The first edition of Outdoor Design Build Supply features two-days of seminars taking place today and tomorrow (March 26), where leading industry players will deliver case study examples of best practice in green landscaping and infrastructure, delving into the unique challenges the Middle East faces in sustainable urban development.

Moderated by Geoffrey Sanderson, principal director of GCLA International and Kamran Seyed Azizi, president of the Emirates Society of Landscape, the sessions will cover topics including the growth of local plants and landscaping conditions in the GCC; golf course and sustainable irrigation; play equipment in outdoor environments; and sustainability in hotel landscaping.

Outdoor Design Build Supply has attracted organisations from all over the globe, including Australia, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, UK, and the US. Many are looking to make their first foray into the Middle East market, such as Australian company Grass By The Metre, and Vitaroofs, an American manufacturer of green roofing systems, that designs and installs custom made roofs incorporating gardens and grasses.

Meanwhile local exhibitors at the dedicated showpiece include Barari Forest Management, the UAE’s only company performing large scale relocation of native trees and fauna across the country; and the Gulf Rubber Factory, the Al Ain based used tyre recycling facility that recycles two million vehicle tyres annually, recycling 24,000 tonnes of the used rubber every year, and converting it into a wide range of outdoor environment applications. – TradeArabia News Service

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Tags:
Dubai | Trade show | landscaping | Outdoor Design |

JAMES CITY – Busch Gardens landscaping experts will bring the beauty of the park to North Carolina.

Busch Gardens announced Monday that Tammy Bennett of Washington, N.C., is the winner of the first Busch Gardens’ Landscaping Giveaway. Bennett’s prize is a yard landscaping package that includes consultation services from Busch Gardens’ horticultural professionals, landscaping and gardening supplies and landscaping installation. 

“I am so excited and cannot wait for them to get started,” Bennett said in a press release. “Every time we go, I wish my yard would look like that.”

• Topics
• 
  
  Amusement and Theme Parks
  
• 
  
  Busch Gardens Orlando
  

Busch Gardens announced the giveaway in early March through its Facebook page. Entries poured in from the southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Participants submitted a photo of their home and a story about why they deserved to win the giveaway.  After reviewing hundreds of submissions, Busch Gardens narrowed the landscaping giveaway submissions to 20 finalists.

According to Bennett’s submission, she purchased her dream home right after receiving a kidney transplant; her husband was her kidney donor. The Bennett family hoped to fix up their home right after purchasing it, but due to medical and financial hardships they had to put their dream on hold.

After announcing the finalists, Busch Gardens invited its Facebook fans to cast their vote for their favorite finalist. Bennett received more than half of the 43,000 votes cast for the giveaway. Later this spring, the Busch Gardens team will visit the Bennett home to install the landscaping.

For 22 consecutive years Busch Gardens has won the “Most Beautiful Park” award from the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

In this undated photo, a Piedmont Azalea is shown growing in the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum on the Tifton campus of the University of Georgia.

TIFTON, Ga. — The South Georgia Native Plant and Wildflower Symposium has blossomed into a must-see event for gardening enthusiasts.

The annual symposium brings together people with a desire to learn more about landscaping with native plants and wildflowers and native plant experts from across the Southeast.

This year’s event will be held Wednesday at UGA’s Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“Many people aren’t aware of the plants that are native to this area, or to the South. That’s what this conference is all about,” said Amy Carter, agricultural research coordinator for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Tifton Campus. “Many of those attending have been here almost every year since the first symposium in 2001. Their gardens are their passion.”

As part of Carter’s work at UGA, she manages the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum. At the conclusion of the event, she will lead a walking tour of the arboretum.

Among the native plants to see in the arboretum are azalea, elysium, viburnum, buckeye and holly.

The daylong event will feature six speakers, including Jenny Cruse Sanders, the vice president for science and conservation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Sanders will discuss the Atlanta garden’s native plant conservation program. Kris Braman, a professor of entomology at the UGA-Griffin Campus, will speak on beneficial insects and their importance to a garden.

“Not all insects are bad,” Carter said. “Many people are tempted to go into their gardens and kill every insect they find. Some of those insects are probably helping. I’m really excited to hear what Dr. Braman can teach us about that.”

Landscape architect Rick Huffman, of Greenville, S.C., will kick off the event. He will speak on his life’s work: creating ecologically-sound landscape designs. Dan Miller will finish the day with his presentation on “Growing Native Azaleas from Seed.”

The symposium will last from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, go to the www.sgnpws.org website or call (229) 391-6868.

Clint Thompson is information coordinator for the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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• UNHAPPY: John Brown, of Bolwarra Heights, stands on the median strip proposed for a community garden.

A leaked email between Maitland City Council management and ­councillors has been implicated in plans to scuttle a community garden. 

The internal document, leaked to the public and obtained by the Mercury, advised that an East Maitland site was unsuitable for the garden and that councillors should reserve any commitment to it. 

Council general manager David Evans circulated the email to ­councillors and high-ranking staff members ahead of a crucial meet and greet at the William Street site, where the garden was to have been built on the large median strip.

“Should you accept the invitation, I suggest that caution be exercised in expressing any position on this proposal, and certainly prior to further ­consideration of an informed council position on community gardens in ­general,” Mr Evans said in the email.

Garden advocate John Brown said the email was a substantial blow in a campaign to deliver Maitland its first community garden. 

“I don’t know if he’s overstepped his bounds,” Mr Brown said.

“[But] I think the email has scared the councillors off.”

When asked about the email, Mr Evans said he had not interfered in the duty of councillors elected to represent residents. 

“No, the caution given was general advice suggesting councillors gather all the relevant information before making any kind of comment or commitment,” he said. 

“Similar advice is given when dealing with other issues.”

In the email, Mr Evans explained to councillors he had been made aware of the invitation to councillors.

The long-standing general manager said community gardens warranted consideration but added that traffic was a major issue at sites such as William Street.

Mr Brown said council’s position was a major setback.

“It may be six months, possibly years, before a community garden will happen,” he said.

“It’s disappointing the gardens are on hold, but we have to keep the lines of communication open.”

A member of The Greens, Mr Brown started the campaign for a community garden last year in a non-political push calling on the support of all Maitland residents.

A petition collected 167 signatures of support, two thirds of them in the immediate vicinity of the East Maitland site, and gained momentum with corporate support.

Organic Feast director Brent Fairns had suggested the William Street site opposite his store and pledged materials as well as the storage for tools.

The East Maitland NAB branch expressed interest in making a cash grant and committing staff on a monthly roster as part of a community-building strategy. 

Rainbow’s End Landscaping also said it could help and the site could have been fenced for free.

“I really believe this is a great opportunity lost,” Mr Brown said. 

Mr Evans said a framework had to be developed before any community garden could be assessed and that process could identify potential sites.

Despite a layer of snow blanketing the ground, a myriad of various types of flora were springing up at the Dr. Lillian Vitanza Ney Renaissance Center.

On Saturday, the second annual Grow Jamestown Garden Fair was held at the Center, providing area residents with a much-needed glimpse into what spring has in store for the community.

The event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., was coordinated by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and several of its partners, including Cornell Cooperative Extension and volunteers from Lutheran Social Services. According to Peter Lombardi, executive director of the JRC, the garden fair is intended to teach the benefits of gardening from a personal and public standpoint.

Article Photos

The second annual Grow Jamestown Garden Fair featured several displays with information for private and public gardeners.
P-J photos by Gavin Paterniti

“The purpose of the event is to number one, provide education through workshops,” said Lombardi. “It’s a combination of businesses that have something to do with gardening and landscaping, and organizations that are trying to promote it as a public interest. I think anyone who comes here can, from the businesses, learn about how they can improve their own gardens, and talk to landscapers about how to improve the appearance of their homes-which is really important to neighborhood revitalization in Jamestown. And then, from the non-profit organizations, they can learn about (a variety of) food- and gardening-related projects in the community and how they can get involved with them.”

Lombardi said that the idea to host a garden fair in Jamestown came from a similar event, which was held in Warren.

“Sharon Reed, from Cornell Cooperative Extension’s master gardeners program, had talked about how Warren’s cooperative extension had a program similar to this,” he said. “And there was a desire to have something similar to that in Jamestown. So this is sort of loosely modeled after that Warren County event, although I think it’s grown bigger. We’ve surpassed last year-and we have twice as many workshops and definitely more vendors.”

There were a total of eight individually-themed workshops, running from 10:30 a.m to 1:15 p.m. The workshops were provided by: Chautauqua County Master Gardeners; Bruce Robinson; Dan Stone; The Home Depot; JRC; and Creating Healthy Spaces.

According to Mary Maxwell, JRC’s neighborhood project associate, the workshops were designed to teach the dynamic nature of gardening.

“I don’t want people to think that gardening is something they can do for two months and be done,” said Maxwell. “It’s a piece of art that, for me, has been a lifelong process.”

Lombardi said that the garden fair has the material to appeal to gardeners of all ages and skill levels.

“(Gardening) is a multi-generational, multi-skill level activity,” he said. “And I think you can see that on display at an event like this. It’s a good way of getting people to connect with each other at an event like this or in the community.”

Due to the success of the garden fair’s inaugural year, which attracted approximately 300 people, more businesses, vendors and organizations have signed on to participate in this year’s event.

Participating businesses included: Big Tree Landscaping Nursery; Bloomquist’s Landscaping; Marlinski Landscape Stonework; Mike’s Nursery; Roberts Nursery; and The Home Depot. Food and crafts were made available by: Downtown Jamestown Farmers Market, including the Busti Cider Mill and Small Meadows Farm; Bruce J. Robinson Photography; Evergreen Forge; Frederes World of Woodcraft; Paula Coats Pottery; Recreations by Deb; and Planet Earth Catering, which catered the event.

The event was supported by organizations including: BOCES’ Work Experience Program; Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy; City of Jamestown Parks Department; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County; Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work Play; JCC Community Garden; Jamestown Audubon Society; Jamestown High School’s “Gardeners of Weedin'” club; Jamestown Renaissance Corporation; James Prendergast Library; St. Susan Center’s Giving Garden; and The Resource Center.