Category Archives: gardens and landscaping

Emerald Series models underway in Phase II of Lakoya; inventory homes available

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Submitted The Scottsdale model by Stock Development.

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Submitted
The Scottsdale model by Stock Development.


Stock Development has begun construction on two models from the Emerald Series in Phase II of Lakoya at Lely Resort.

“Lakoya has been a big hit with homebuyers and only a few of the 149 homes in Phase I are left,” said Tim Clark, vice president of sales at Lely Resort. “The Emerald Series homes are spacious, luxurious homes that have won countless awards for their livability and interior designs.”

The Emerald Series is a collection of four, single-family homes in single-story designs. The Muirfield III model is being furnished by KVS Interiors and the Ponte Vedra Grande will feature an interior design by Beasley Henley Interiors.

The Muirfield III is a four-bedroom, with study, three-and-one-half-bath home encompassing 3,202 square feet under air and a total of 4,809 square feet, including an attached three-car garage and a screened and covered lanai with outdoor kitchen. The great room-style design includes a formal dining room and private study. The island-style kitchen includes counter seating and a breakfast nook overlooking the pool.

The Ponte Vedra Grande is a four-bedroom, with study, four-and-one-half-bath home with 3,490 square feet under air and 4,853 total square feet, including an attached three-car garage and a screened and covered lanai with outdoor grill. There is also a family room and formal living and dining rooms, all of which are conveniently located off the large island-style kitchen. Each guest bedroom is a full suite with a private bath and walk-in closet.

The Emerald Series homes feature a motor court with a three-car garage. Outside is a covered lanai with a pool and spa with an outdoor kitchen.

Phase II of Lakoya will offer 216 homesites and seven series of floor plans. More than a dozen furnished models are planned for the new year — all with the luxurious standard features packages from Stock, a member of this year’s nationwide Builder 100 list.

Lakoya is a meticulously planned 242-acre enclave with sculptured landscaping, gardens, choreographed fountains and paved walking paths. It is surrounded by subtropical woodlands and The Classics 18-hole golf course, which features gentle undulations and tree-lined fairways. An elaborate series of lakes has been crafted throughout the neighborhood, giving the homes an array of water, golf course and nature preserve views.

Lely Resort boasts Naples’ most prestigious golf program. There are three golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Lee Trevino and Gary Player, as well as two golf clubhouses.

Stock is nearing completion of a two-year expansion plan that will dramatically increase the size of The Players Club Spa. It has already completed 13 new tennis courts in the new Tennis Complex. The Players Club Spa provides an extraordinary value for nongolfers with activities coordinated by a full-time staff, and whirlpools and a fitness center.

“Stock’s expansion plan greatly increases the size of the entire Players Club Spa and ensure its amenity offerings are the most comprehensive to be found,” said Melissa Speach, director of lifestyle. “We are adding nearly 13,000 square feet under air to the existing structure. The second resort pool is well underway.”

The new pool is in addition to a 7,500-square-foot resort style swimming pool plus a 2,500-square-foot exercise and lap pool with cabanas. There is a new full kitchen at the Tiki Bar, which has seven 50-inch flat screen TVs as well as a tennis facility. Bark Park is also open for the exclusive use of members who are dog owners.

The central sales center for Lely Resort is at 8020 Grand Lely Drive, with entrances on U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard. From Interstate 75, take Exit 101 (Collier Boulevard) south five miles to Grand Lely Drive. The sales center is ahead one-half mile on the left. Online at www.lely-resort.com. Stock Development is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FLStockDevelopment.

Jim McLain: Planning will prevent most of your landscaping mistakes – Yakima Herald

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Pat Ferguson, a perceptive garden writer, nailed it when she wrote, “Being a gardener means, among other things, making mistakes.” She’s correct. I make mistakes (lots of them), you make mistakes and so does every other gardener. In my many years of gardening I have observed about every kind of gardening mistake imaginable.

So how can we cut our landscaping mistakes to a minimum? In this column I will spotlight just a few of the more common mistakes that gardeners commit. The biggest mistake many of us make is to neglect planning before we start planting. Not surprisingly, most of the multitude of other mistakes we often make can be traced back to the lack of proper planning.

Mistakes in landscaping newly built homes

If you are having a new house built, you are in luck because you will start with a clean slate. First, take a tape measure and graph paper and measure your building lot. Then draw in your new proposed home to scale and what you want to include in your landscape.

If you are new to gardening and don’t have a clue about landscaping, you may want to seek professional help. If money is no object, you may want to consult with a professional landscape architect. An experienced landscape designer can also be helpful. Or you may be able to educate yourself by heading to the library and checking out books on landscaping. Likewise, there is a lot of good information available free on the Internet.

After you have come up with a plan, make a schematic drawing of your plan. Always begin by planting trees. Trees are often called the “bones” of the landscape, and since they will be the slowest to mature, get at least some of them in the ground during the first year.

Ideally, you should set aside money for landscaping soon after construction begins. The gurus of landscaping recommend that 10 to 15 percent of your building budget should go for landscaping. But unfortunately, most home builders neglect to think about landscaping because it comes after construction has been completed. Then it is unlikely there will be but a pittance left for landscaping. If you lack enough money to put your entire plan into action, you can do your landscaping in stages over the course of several years.

Common mistakes in older landscapes

Instead of building, most of us purchasing a home will buy one from a previous owner that already has a maturing landscape. This doesn’t mean you are home free, even though the earlier owner may have done a good job of landscaping. You will have your own ideas about the landscape. If you purchase your home this winter or early next spring, don’t be in a rush right away and start removing trees, shrubs, perennials or make any other big changes. Instead, wait until you have lived in the home long enough to see what plantings you care to keep and those you will want to remove.

You should also draw a landscape plan. Hopefully, most of the trees, shrubs and perennials planted by the earlier owner will fit into your plan. But almost invariably some changes will need to be made. Unfortunately, large trees and large shrubs are quite expensive to have moved or removed. Ideally, you will be able to incorporate most of the existing mature trees and shrubs in your plan. If you do decide that some trees must be removed, call an experienced professional. Your house and your own safety are far more important than the expense of having large trees removed.

If you decide you need some new trees, there are several mistakes you will want to avoid. Don’t plant a tree so the trunk flare — where the trunk meets the root system — are beneath the soil line. This can lead to root rot and depriving roots of enough air. Remove the burlap wrapping, straps, ropes or wire cages so the roots will have room to grow. Backfill the planting hole with the soil you dug out — not by bringing in better soil, compost or fertilizer. Use tough love so the roots will not stay cuddled within the comfort of the amended soil — roots need to be forced to grow far beyond the planting hole. Avoid staking your tree unless it is planted in an area that gets lots of strong wind, and remove the stakes within a year.

Before you plant, read the tree tag that tells you how tall and how wide your tree will grow at maturity. That is just ballpark estimate, so allow for even more growth than the tags lists. Then think carefully about the site where it will be planted. In older sections of town, lots of homeowners plant shade trees between the sidewalk and the street. Big mistake! If there are utility lines above, city workers will likely butcher your tree when it grows into utility lines. Growing roots can lift up and crack the sidewalk, which will have to be replaced. If you need shade trees in front of your home, locate them well back from the sidewalk.

Also, avoid planting trees too close to your house. Take into account the spread your tree will reach. Then plant several more feet away so limbs won’t rub against your house. Knowing the tree’s potential height should warn you not to plant so close that overhanging limbs can damage the roof and roots damage the foundation.

Whether you have a new home or an order one, you should plan so maintenance will not take a lot of your time. Don’t plant too close to sidewalks and pathways, and look for smaller cultivars or species with low and slow growth to avoid the need for annual pruning. Ask for help at the nursery for good choices.

In laying out beds for perennials and annuals, don’t use sharp angles. Instead, use gentle curves, which will make mowing and edging much easier and quicker. Too much togetherness isn’t a good thing when it comes to shrubs, trees and perennials since all plants need good air circulation. Crowding will cause you a lot of maintenance headaches.

Plan for enjoying your yard year-round

Many gardeners landscape to allow for a lot of color in spring, summer and fall, but they neglect to consider their gardens in winter. Evergreen plantings, both broadleaf and needled, are fine but also include deciduous plantings to counterbalance your evergreens. Choose trees and shrubs that make four-season statements. Unique bark texture, color, form and texture will add a lot of interest, as will seed clusters, berries and seed heads. And don’t forget hardscaping — including birdbaths, birdhouses, small statuary and urns, but be careful not to overdo it or your landscape will end up looking cluttered or gaudy. With careful planning you can look out your picture windows and still enjoy your landscape, even in the dead of winter.

This column has mentioned just a few of the common mistakes that gardeners make, mostly because of a lack of good planning. In 2014 I would imagine that most of us will still make at least a few common landscaping mistakes. Just keep in mind that Pat Ferguson reminds us that being gardeners we will make mistakes, but hopefully, not as many as we have made in years past.

• Freelance gardening columnist Jim McLain can be reached at 509-697-6112 or ongardening@fairpoint.net.

Trowel & Glove: Marin gardening calendar for the week of Dec. 7, 2013

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Marin

• The Garden Society of Marin’s annual greens sale is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Marin Art Garden Center at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross. Call 457-2565 or go to gardensocietyofmarin.org.

• The Marin County Indoor Antique Market’s 29th annual Christmas show is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Free. Call 383-2552 or go to www.goldengateshows.com.

• West Marin Commons offers a weekly harvest exchange at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays at the Livery Stable gardens on the commons in Point Reyes Station. Go to www.westmarin commons.org.

• Ed Rosenthal discusses “Protect Your Garden” at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at Book Passage at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd. in Corte Madera. Free. Call 927-0960 or go to www.bookpassage.com.

• The Novato Independent Elders Program seeks volunteers to help Novato seniors with their overgrown yards on Tuesday mornings or Thursday afternoons. Call 899-8296.

• Volunteers are sought to help in Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy nurseries from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at Tennessee Valley, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Muir Woods or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays or 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Marin Headlands. Call 561-3077 or go to www.parksconservancy.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

• “The Flower and the Vase,” a floral design demonstation class with MaryAnn Nardo, is from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Dec. 12 at Terrestra at 30 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley. $45. Go to www.terrestra.com/ floral/ to register.

• The SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) native plant nursery days are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and weekends. Call 663-8590, ext. 114, or email jonathan@tirn.net to register and for directions.

• The 27th annual St. John’s Tour de Noel house tour is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at four homes in Ross. $30 to $45. Lunch is available for $15. Call 456-1102 or go to www.stjohnsross.org/tour.html.

• Marin Master Gardeners and the Marin Municipal Water District offer free residential Bay-Friendly Garden Walks to MMWD customers. The year-round service helps homeowners identify water-saving opportunities and soil conservation techniques for their landscaping. Call 473-4204 to request a visit to your garden.

• Marin Open Garden Project (MOGP) volunteers are available to help Marin residents glean excess fruit from their trees for donations to local organizations serving people in need and to build raised beds to start vegetable gardens through the MicroGardens program. MGOP also offers a garden tool lending library. Go to www.opengardenproject.org or email contact@opengarden project.org.

• The Marin Organic Glean Team seeks volunteers to harvest extras from the fields at various farms for the organic school lunch and gleaning program. Call 663-9667 or go to www.marinorganic.org.

San Francisco

• The Conservatory of Flowers, at 100 John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, displays permanent galleries of tropical plant species as well as changing special exhibits from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. $2 to $7. Call 831-2090 or go to www.conservatoryofflowers.org.

• The San Francisco Botanical Garden Society, at Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park, offers several ongoing events. $7; free to San Francisco residents, members and school groups. Call 661-1316 or go to www.sf botanicalgarden.org. Free docent tours leave from the Strybing Bookstore near the main gate at 1:30 p.m. weekdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. weekends; and from the north entrance at 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Groups of 10 or more can call ahead for special-focus tours.

Around the Bay

• Cornerstone Gardens is a permanent, gallery-style garden featuring walk-through installations by international landscape designers on nine acres at 23570 Highway 121 in Sonoma. Free. Call 707-933-3010 or go to www.cornerstone gardens.com.

• Garden Valley Ranch rose garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays at 498 Pepper Road in Petaluma. Self-guided and group tours are available. $2 to $10. Call 707-795-0919 or go to www.gardenvalley.com.

• Don Landis teaches “How to De-Bitter Olives” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8 at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards at 24724 Arnold Drive in Sonoma. Free. Reservations required. Call 707-931-7575.

• The Luther Burbank Home at Santa Rosa and Sonoma avenues in Santa Rosa has docent-led tours of the greenhouse and a portion of the gardens every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. $7. A holiday open house is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8. $2. Call 707-524-5445.

• McEvoy Ranch at 5935 Red Hill Road in Petaluma offers tips on planting olive trees and has olive trees for sale by appointment. Call 707-769-4123 or go to www.mcevoy ranch.com.

• Wednesdays are volunteer days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center at 15290 Coleman Valley Road in Occidental. Call 707-874-1557, ext. 201, or go to www.oaec.org.

• Quarryhill Botanical Garden at 12841 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen covers 61 acres and showcases a large selection of scientifically documented wild source temperate Asian plants. The garden is open for self-guided tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. $5 to $10. Call 707-996-3166 or go to www.quarryhillbg.org.

The Trowel Glove Calendar appears Saturdays. Send high-resolution jpg photo attachments and details about your event to calendar@marinij.com or mail to Home and Garden Calendar/Lifestyles, Marin Independent Journal, 4000 Civic Center Drive, Suite 301, San Rafael, CA 94903. Items should be sent two weeks in advance. Photos should be a minimum of 1 megabyte and include caption information. Include a daytime phone number on your release.

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Garden? That too on the 15th floor?

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Thought living in a high-rise Gurgaon building meant missing out on the green lawns of Delhi bungalows? The city’s landscapers disagree!

While there are many villa residencies and independent houses across Gurgaon, the majority of the city’s population is based in the high rises that dominate the sectors.

For a long time, the greenery in these houses was limited to a couple of mud pot plants, while balconies were considered to be storage spaces rather than a place where you enjoy your evening tea. But with the popularity of landscaping artistes and their Facebook pages, TOI realised there’s a growing demand in Gurgaon to make their houses greener and more welcoming.

Landscaping the balcony is now a rewarding one-time investment for many, and each house is adding the green element to their limited open spaces in an attempt to stand out in the concrete jungle. We spoke to people who are happily enjoying their newfound green corners and herb gardens, which, till some time back, was an unrealistic expectation from those who resides on the 15th floor of a Gurgaon high-rise.

Landscaping makes for a one-time investment
Just like getting a decorator to solve your designing woes is an expected norm, landscaping works in the same way. And in Gurgaon, you don’t need too much land or even be at the ground level, to get your own little garden space designed by a professional.

Rahul Sarin who is based in Icon in Phase 5, shared with us, “We came to know about professionals after we visited one of our neighbours’ house, who had got their balcony renovated recently. We’d never expected that a storehouse space could actually look so beautiful! We got in touch with the landscaping professional soon after. We spent around a lakh on the entire project and it’s completely worth it. We considered it to be a one-time investment. We now have this additional space, which was just being wasted otherwise.”

Shikha Kavra, a teacher based in Sector 49, agrees and adds, “We had the right amount of space in the form of an extended balcony, and at our personal level, we had tried to utilise the space by putting in some furniture and would make it a point to sit in the open space, but it still didn’t feel the way it should. So we took professional help which has worked wonders for our space. Like one hires interior decor artistes, landscaping should also be handled by a professional, and without money constraints. In Gurgaon, one’s forever trying to maintain their individuality, and our balcony lawn, which has been designed as an extension of our personalities, is perfect that way.”

Our green corner’s a venue for get-togethers
Once the balcony space is ready after the designer makeover, the homeowners become proud hosts, and the little undiscovered open space becomes the favourite zone in the house for many.

Surbhi Verma, who stays with her family on Sohna Road, told us, “My high-rise house in Gurgaon is as different as can be from the Chandigarh or Bangalore houses I lived in before marriage. I was so used to a garden and I knew it was such a big stressbuster that I really missed here.”

When I first saw the work of these landscaping artistes on Facebook, I was really surprised. So, I got my balcony space done up completely, and now I can’t believe it’s the same Gurgaon flat. Thanks to my herb garden, my lawn and my plants within my balcony, I can proudly say that we’re close to nature while in Gurgaon because that is something no one expects when living in this concrete jungle. Our little green corner has become the venue for all our friends’ parties and get-togethers, and so many of our acquaintances are also getting similar projects done now.”

According to Neeta Loomba, who stays in The Magnolias, a house is incomplete without greenery. She shared with us, “I planned beforehand the kind of green elements I wanted in my house. Personally, I feel you can get the best decorator, the best furniture and accessories, but a house is incomplete without greenery. So, even in my home on the 21st floor, we have a green wall, and different-sized plants, which make my outdoor space my favourite zone of the house. Yes, every society has these big lawns and gardens but there is nothing personal about them and honestly, one hardly goes there to relax.”

Professional help a must because of lack of time, space
Once the new space is set up, the designers offer regular consultancies and visits to keep their busy clients satisfied. Many Gurgaon residents agree to take professional help due to major space and time constraints.

Mudit Khurana, who stays with his family in Phase 1, adds, “My wife and I are both working. I have grown up with a fondness for plants and gardening, and wanted my son to develop a similar hobby. But one hardly has the time for that here. We wanted a garden but we didn’t have the time to pick the plants from the nursery, or even the required knowledge about their maintenance. So, we took help from landscaping professionals who not only put our garden together, but also offered regular consultancy. They have timely visits to keep a check on the plants, and offer advice and tips, from which my kid is learning a lot.”

“My previous residence had a lawn and a terrace space, where I had collected a lot of plants and could innovate and use the space well. But when I moved to Gurgaon, I suddenly found myself in the middle of the sky, up on the 15th floor. To execute my elaborate plans, I opted for professional help. I now have a water body in my living room balcony, and a herb garden in my tiny kitchen balcony,” Rachna Chawla, who stays in DLF Phase 5, shared with us.

Customized packages and consultancies bring customers back: Designers
We spoke to the landscaping artistes, greenery advisers and decorators who lead to such happy customers.

Ruchira Sarin, from Humanize and Harmonize, shared with us, “People in Gurgaon appreciate professional inputs in all aspects of their life. So, even when I was starting out, I didn’t face problems convincing people for the need of getting a professional landscaping person to do up their balcony and terrace spaces. Other than the designing, one also goes in for green advice and consultancy to keep their plants in good condition and basically getting their investment going for a longer time.”

Humanize and Harmonize offers premium packages, starting `1 lakh onwards and budget packages for smaller spaces and limited plants at `25,000 onwards.

Ritu Mathur from Upavan also has an active Facebook page for green advice and conducts regular workshops for gardening enthusiasts. She shared with us, “People in Gurgaon are willing to experiment with their spaces. So, it’s not just about aesthetically beautiful plants but also smaller, easy-to-grow edible ones too. A lot of people have moved here from bigger houses, which had those vedas and backyards. So, creating similar, greener environments in lesser spaces is a popular demand.”

Ashok from Garden View added, “The popularity of garden designing has just grown over the years. Whether it’s just a small balcony space, or one combined with a terrace and deck area, the prices vary accordingly. But everyone wants to bring in green elements to make their homes stand out in the flat culture.”

Mayor to officially open community garden on Saturday

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Topics: 

fraser coast regional council,

halcro street community centre,

hervey bay,

mayor

COMMUNITY gardens in Point Vernon will be officially launched at an open day on Saturday from 9am to noon.

The gardens, next door to the Halcro Street Community Centre, will grow fruit and vegetables and also has a sensory garden for carers and people in care.

Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’Connell will officially open the facility.

The event includes tours, demonstrations, a garden bed working bee and a sausage sizzle.

Healthy communities co-ordinator Maureen Murphy said a group of local job seekers had been working hard with council’s outdoor crews to put the finishing touches on the gardens including turfing the area and landscaping.

“The crews have done a fantastic job and it’s really starting to come together,” she said.

“A shade and picnic structure has been built, as well as raised gardens and they have landscaped the entire area, including paved pathways and planting native trees.

“Council’s Live Life Healthy team held community consultation sessions last year to gauge exactly what features people wanted to be included in the community garden and we have progressed from there.”

The garden will be a place where people can grow fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as a meeting place to relax and unwind.

Ms Murphy said it would also feature a sensory garden where carers and care recipients could relax and meditate, swap recipes, and share gardening secrets and everything in between.

“We’re also planning workshops covering seeding and gardening, seedling propagation and healthy cooking classes so we really want to hear from groups and residents that would be interested in attending,” she said.

“Having the community centre next door means we can extend the activities to cooking classes, art workshops and seed saving to name a few.

“And anyone can get involved.

“We want people of all ages, from expert gardeners to novices who want to learn more about gardening and sustainable living. It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and make new friends in a positive environment.

“So I hope to see plenty of people come along on Saturday and check out this fantastic facility.”
 

Where pros get their green thumbs

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Kwantlen School of Horticulture is where B.C.'s green thumbs pick up their expertise

Kwantlen School of Horticulture is where B.C.’s green thumbs pick up their expertise

Last in a four-part series on gardening and professional horticulture.

The need for competent, educated professional gardeners is obvious to David Davidson whenever he walks around his neighbourhood.

“I see a lot of plants growing in gardens but they are kind of mediocre and struggling. They are growing, they are not dying, but they are not thriving either,” says Davidson, associate dean at Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture in Langley.

“The attitude of homeowners seems to be that if a plant is not dead, it is OK. But there is a big difference between a flourishing, healthy plant and one that is barely surviving.”

It is Davidson’s job to shape and promote and oversee the many horticulture courses at the school, which — since it was established in 1993 — has evolved to become the biggest horticultural training centre of its kind in B.C. and one of the most prestigious in Canada.

Davidson believes that not only home gardens and public landscapes would be better if more professionals were consulted and engaged to do the work, but the overall quality of life of the whole community would benefit from the positive impact of well designed, proficiently planted and professionally maintained green spaces.

“What typically happens is that when a new house is built, the top soil disappears early in construction. Then the ground is capped with mediocre soil and the site is over-planted, often with inappropriate trees and all sorts of plants in the wrong place.

“I see an awful lot of houses with southern exposure with rhododendrons and azaleas planted in them. They don’t die, but they don’t look great. They limp on for about three or four years and when they start to look very bad, the homeowner hires a professional. Finally, the work gets done properly and the homeowner ends up with an excellent product.”

At the Kwantlen campus, students are being trained for careers in horticulture — as landscapers, designers, turf managers for golf courses, pest control specialists, greenhouse production workers and plant experts.

Some graduates have gone on to start their own successful landscaping firms. Others have become superintendents at golf courses, overseeing the professional maintenance of the turf, trees and shrub areas.

At the school, courses fall into three main categories — diploma courses, apprenticeship training and citations.

The most popular is the two-year horticulture diploma course, which offers three areas of specialization — landscape design and installation, greenhouse and nursery production and turf management.

Graduates have the option to continue their studies by doing a degree in horticulture science, which has a strong emphasis on pest management, plant pathology and biological controls.

There is also a degree course offered in Urban Ecosystems, which is a more analytical program focused on the management of urban green spaces, especially how landscaping impacts quality of life.

But for many young people already working in the landscape and nursery industry, the college’s horticultural apprenticeship programs are tailor-made to help them get better qualifications and more professional know-how.

Apprentices are sent by their employers on a six-week training course in either landscaping or nursery production. There are four levels, each one taking about a year to complete. About 145 apprentices a year sign up.

The first two levels focus on fundamental horticultural skills and knowledge, covering topics such as plant health, soil chemistry, equipment maintenance and supervisory skills.

After completing these levels, students have the option of continuing to levels three and four in order to become a “journeyman” — a level of competence that is now recognized as a “Red Seal” trade all across Canada — or they can transfer into the second year of the diploma program.

As well as completing the four-levels of study, students are expected to clock at least 6,500 hours of practical on-the-job work time.

Citation courses are designed for people looking to enhance their skills or knowledge in a specific area of horticulture, such as lawn care, pest management, garden centre operation or landscape design or arboriculture.

“Citation courses are ideal for people who are working and want to gain credentials, but are not able to commit to a full-time diploma program,” Davidson says.

For information about courses and fees, go to kwantlen.ca

swhysall@vancouversun.com

Expansion of Orchard Gardens Park in Sunnyvale moves forward

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The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved the conceptual designs for the expansion of Orchard Gardens Park on Nov. 26, which will initiate the development of the detailed design and eventual bid process for construction of the park.

The addition will bring 15,000 square feet of new park space adjacent to Orchard Gardens Park at 238 Garner Drive.

The expansion is part of a 30-year-old plan that saw the city purchase three residential lots on Garner Drive adjacent to Orchard Gardens Park. The city started acquiring the properties in 1980 with the intent of demolishing the homes and expanding the park by approximately a third of an acre.

The city has notified each of the Garner Drive tenants twice about the expansion plans, once in September 2012 and again in April 2013.

“The most recent notice explained that the leases would not be renewed beyond the end of 2013,” Sunnyvale communications officer Jennifer Garnett said. “Our current schedule would be spring 2014 for the demolition of the homes.”

The demolition and disposal of a city-owned building at 775 Dona Ave.–which is outside the Orchard Gardens Park expansion project boundaries–was combined with this project because of the similar nature of work involved. According to city staff, the building was deemed uninhabitable in 2000, was recently been broken into and is considered an “attractive nuisance.”

Once demolished, construction of the new park features will begin.

Park features will include new trees, plants and exercise equipment, landscaping, a small turf area, picnic tables, benches and six off-street parking spaces. The addition will also create a gateway for the John W. Christian Greenbelt, with clear signage inviting cyclists and pedestrians to explore the trail.

At least 41 people attended public input meetings during the summer and shared concerns regarding neighborhood issues such as parking, noise and safety. They also identified possible features such as landscaping, quiet areas, lighting and fitness equipment that they would like to see included in the new park space, according to city staff.

Harris Design, a landscape architecture firm, was awarded a design contract for the project on June 11 in the amount of $156,960.

Orchard Gardens Park opened in 1966 and is known for its tennis courts.