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This house (designed by Peter Cook) sits in a beautifully landscaped 1.9 acres, right on the bay with your own dock. There are vegetable and herb gardens and a pergola under which you can eat your garden produce. Of course there’s a gorgeous pool with deck and hot tub with a water view. There are three buildings on the property: a main house, a pool/guest house, and an old cottage for reading and relaxing. Both the main and the guest house have been meticulously updated in modern taste, with a chic kitchen in the main and a kitchenette in the guest cottage. There are three bedrooms in the main house, with the entire upper floor given over to a luxurious master suite, with a deep soaking tub for after a day’s gardening or boating.
· Stunning Modern Bayfront With Pool and Dock In Southampton [Corcoran]

Nighttime drivers on Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue will encounter delays this week as crews begin paving and striping as part of a larger streetscape project.

The work will be done from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. between South 15th and South 9th streets. Police officers will be at intersections to direct traffic.

Improvements to Pacific Avenue include upgraded sidewalks, new curbs, new pedestrian ramps, landscaping, lighting, rain gardens and art.

Paving on other parts of Pacific Avenue are scheduled for November.

British Gardens in India: Eugenia W. Herbert; Allen Lane/ Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11, Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110017. Rs. 799.

If your idea of the perfect garden is a neat little lawn trimmed with borders full of seasonal flowers, you have more of a colonial hangover than you imagined. This is the kind of garden that hundreds of sahebs and their wives longed for as they pined for England during those sweltering, disease filled summers in the hot Gangetic plains, and sought to create with mixed success in a land that was green but not in the way they wanted it.

Much has been written about colonial architecture in India; Flora’s Empire – British Gardens in India by Eugenia W. Herbert, focuses on the little documented but fascinating aspect integral to the ‘residences’, homes, cities, towns, and hill-stations that the British went about building in the two centuries and more that they established themselves in this country.

Herbert is Professor Emeritus of History at Mount Holyoke College in the U.S., and her book is a view of British imperialism from a unique and engaging perspective. As she observes: “And everywhere [the British] created gardens, large and small, private and public, that embodies not only aesthetic ideals but also philosophical understandings of the good life, of civilization, and the social and political order.”

In this way, the British rulers of India had more in common than they cared to acknowledge with their Mughal predecessors, who had very definite views about landscaping and left their own green stamp on India, from the terraced gardens of Kashmir and Lahore to the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal.

Suburbs

When Edward Clive became governor of Madras in 1798, he and his wife, both enthusiastic botanists, set about improving Government House and its gardens set in 75 acres in what was then known as Triplicane (where now stands the abandoned secretariat built by the previous DMK government). Clive was recalled by the Company for his extravagance, just about the same time as Lord Wellesley, whose spending on building a palatial Government House in Calcutta similarly found few sympathisers back at the head office. But both were only reflecting the growing fortunes of the East India Company by projecting power and opulence on a grand scale. In Calcutta, as in Madras, the British found their initial settlements too suffocating, and expanded out into the suburbs that they segregated exclusively for their use.

In Calcutta, Garden Reach rose like “a fairy isle” on the banks of the Hooghly, with its mansions surrounded by gardens that extended up to the water. In Madras, gentlemen of means broke out of Fort St. George to build “garden houses” farther afield, with trees lining the avenues from the fort to the new settlements. In addition to Government House, an official country retreat in Guindy Forest (now Raj Bhavan) came up.

Though some like Clive, Wellesley and much later Lord Curzon were personally involved in planning the open spaces around their official residences, gardening was in the main the domain of the memsahibs, who found in it a way of expressing themselves, and spending the time that hung heavy on their hands, with hordes of servants doing all the chores, the husbands away and the children left behind at schools in England.

Gardens were also a way for rulers to separate themselves from the ruled. “Manicured gardens with neat lawns and flowerbeds were a means of distancing oneself from the smells and dirt of India,” Herbert notes.

The many differences of a British garden from a typical Indian bageecha underlined the separateness, which too grew with the passage of time. During Company rule, the gardens were a more relaxed mix of East and West than in the post-1857 period, but too much Indianness in a garden was always seen as an early warning of “going native”.

On the whole, British gardens tended to reflect the nostalgia for English annuals — sweet peas, dahlias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, hollyhocks, and the like. Flowers such as jasmine, whose fragrance was too overwhelming for delicate British noses, did not find place in most of these gardens.

Reams of manuals were printed on how to grow a garden, with detailed instructions about soils, temperatures, watering, seeds, manure, insects and designs. The lawn, that enduring symbol of an English garden, remained the main challenge.

Though Herbert does not quite accept a theory that the social class of individuals back home in England was reflected in their gardens in India – the lower you were on the ladder, the more open you were to Indian influences in your garden – she argues that this nevertheless showed that the garden was something more than met the eye; “[a] synecdoche, the part standing for the whole of one’s response to an alien culture and the life that exile imposed, especially on women”.

Proving that the grass is ever greener on the other side, those who returned took back with them exotic Indian plants, to create a little corner of India in their English gardens, not always successfully.

Simla

Written with all the enthusiasm of an avid gardener and botanist as much as a historian, the book has a richly detailed portion on the creation of Simla as the summer capital of the Raj, where rhododendrons grew wild, as “forest trees, not shrubs as you have them in England”, covering the hills with a deep red in April. Growing English flowers in Simla was a walk in the park, the only problem being the non-availability of enough level ground. Only the Viceregal Lodge built by Henry Irwin in the late 19 century boasted sprawling huge lawns, improved upon by later Viceroys and Vicerines. Lord Curzon was to remark that the grounds were the only thing that made the Lodge bearable.

The combination of British architecture and gardens was perhaps nowhere better demonstrated than in the creation of New Delhi. Lutyens had little regard for Mughal architecture, but took more readily to their gardens, sharing as he did the same fondness for symmetry, order and geometry. Urged by Lady Hardinge, he took from the Mughal gardens in Kashmir as he planned the 15-acre space around the new house of the Viceroy on top of Raisina Hill. The plan, he wrote to his wife was all “too Alice in Wonderlandish for worlds. However, it will come in time”.

But as Herbert observes, the Mughal Garden at what is now Rashtrapati Bhavan was all too English: instead of a zenana, Lutyens put in tennis courts; and, instead of the central chabutra at the intersection of the water channels, a lawn. Herbert quotes Jane Brown — she wrote on the long professional partnership between Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, the English designer with whom he worked on many projects back in England — as describing that lawn as “a symbolic triumph of the English way of gardening”.

Written with wit, humour and style, this exhaustively researched book — the references at the end run to nearly 50 pages — hooks the reader with both its details and its sweep, not to speak of the little surprises that spring up now and then. The one that threw me was that the marigold, regarded as the quintessential Indian flower, came from Europe.

(Nirupama Subramanian is an Associate Editor with The Hindu)

SOUTHBURY — The Southbury Garden Club recently announced the winners of its 2013 Landscaping and Beautification Awards to local businesses and corporations.

The winners have designed and maintained gardens and landscaping which improve the overall beauty of Southbury and enhance the shopping experience in the town’s commercial areas.

Club president Faith Moss and civic committee co-chair Kathy Lerner presented this year’s Plazas and Corporate Offices category certificate to the Southbury Plaza.

Mary Ann Gatto of Gatto Development Company accepted the award. She and her husband, Rudy, manage the plaza and maintain beautiful garden areas even in this summer’s extreme weather conditions.

Mrs. Gatto praised the hard work of Maintenance Supervisor Dezelal Tela and his dedicated landscape crew for the beautiful landscaping throughout the plaza.

In the Continuing Excellence category, Lake Wine and Spirits on Main Street South was recognized again for its beautiful plantings and landscaping.

Proprietor Jeff Raether takes great pride in his rose trees, hanging baskets, fountain and ever-expanding plantings. Mr. Raether spends at least six hours a week maintaining the garden himself.

The Independent Business certificate was given to Subway at 14 Oak Tree Rd., operated by Michael Candido.

Subway customers are greeted by lush planters and well manicured gardens.

Employee Amber Murray from Oxford accepted the award. The employees lovingly tend the planter throughout the growing season.

The Southbury Garden Club presents these awards annually to encourage local businesses to beautify their locations with quality plantings and landscaping. The overall aim is to make Southbury a more attractive place to live, work and shop.

The Southbury Garden Club meets at the Southbury Public Library on the first Friday of the month from March through December. The club sponsors speakers, design workshops and field trips to destinations of special interest to gardeners.

Members participate in many local civic activities, including a major project at the Ballantine Pool House which included donating a large stone walkway, planting and designing two environmentally friendly gardens, two wood and wrought iron benches and two large planters; planting a vegetable garden at the community garden and donating the harvest weekly to the Southbury Food Bank; making garden therapy baskets for Safe Haven residents; providing holiday decorations for Southbury public buildings and maintenance of public gardens at several town parks..

Prospective members are welcome.

Further membership information is available from Eleanor Cea at 203-262-4166 or at southburygardenclub.org.

Submitted photo

Grasses

The City of El Mirage used these fountaingrass plantings along some of their streets. Although it is a lovely grass, fountaingrass is a non-native species of grass in Arizona. It is native to Africa and was introduced into Arizona for landscaping purposes. It has since spread throughout wild areas in southern Arizona. They compete with native species for nutrients in the soil, for sunlight, and for moisture, and can cause dramatic changes to the natural landscape.

Submitted photo

Grasses

Deer grass: Native species. This row of deer grass at El Mirage Park is an example of a good use of native grasses for urban desert landscaping. Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a dependable ornamental grass for the Valley, adapting to many different uses in gardens and landscaping. It grows rapidly and becomes thick and lush in full sun, even doing well in high-heat reflective exposures, and in shade. It grows to about 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is drought-tolerant. In the fall, the plant grows long, thin green flower spikes. These spikes dry and weather to a tan color, giving the plant a lovely “halo” look. Deer grass is recommended for use in Valley gardens and landscaping.

Submitted photo

Grasses

This lawn is a mixture of Bermuda grass and Arizona fescue, aka Arizonica. Bermuda grass has long been a staple for lawns in the Valley. But it has been established as an invasive, non-native plant in Arizona. It competes with native plants for survival, and it is the leading cause of hay fever in our Southwestern deserts. Fescue, on the other hand, is native to the U.S., and is hardy in heat or shade. It is drought tolerant but is not invasive or threatening to grass species native to Arizona. Fescue or rye grass (a close relative of fescue) is recommended for cooler-weather lawns.

Margaret Francis

Posted: Sunday, September 22, 2013 9:15 am

Grasses go native

By Margaret Francis

Your West Valley

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Grasses go native

Grasses are wonderful additions to our gardens and yards. The numerous ornamental varieties that are native to our Valley deserts are generally large and hardy and easy to find at your local nursery. They are perennial evergreens that grow rapidly. There are also grasses good for use as lawns in our desert Valley of the Sun.

The tall ornamental grasses can be planted in the ground or grown in pots. Their height and fullness give a lush look to our gardens. These plants also provide graceful movement amongst our flowers, rocks and trees. Grasses invite birds and other garden critters to come for shade and food. Many of these grasses grow very large and can be depended upon to fill empty spaces in our gardens with flair. They will also stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

Ornamental grasses for the desert are hardy, drought tolerant and easy to care for. I highly recommend them for any garden or yard. Plant them behind flowers or around accent stones. Plant them against walls and posts, in corners or on raised areas. Grasses can also be used to surround a patio or sitting area for privacy.

When considering growing ornamental grasses or lawns, all Arizonans are encouraged to make sure they use only native grasses in their gardens and yards. Non-native grasses that begin as ornamentals in yards are finding their way into wild areas of the state and are greatly damaging the delicate ecosystems so vital to the health of our state’s unique native plants.

Arizona is the third-most biodiverse state in the U.S. These non-native species are such a threat to Arizona’s natural habitats that a number of concerned groups around the state are encouraging the public to learn about native and non-native species before planting new grasses in gardens. For information about native and non-native plants in Arizona, here are a few of the 35 or so groups who can help:

• Arizona Native Plant Society, based in Tucson

• Desert Survivors, a non-profit organization based in Tucson; see a complete list of native grasses on their website

• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, in Tucson

• Nature Conservancy in Arizona

• University of Arizona Desert Laboratory

• Margaret Francis lives in Sun City.

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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Frank Crandall, GoLocalWorcester Landscaping Expert

A water garden can add visual interest to your landscaping, and it’s something you can do with the right planning.

Throughout history people have been fascinated with bringing water into their landscape and gardens…fountains, birdbaths, water gardens and ponds. The calming sounds of a gentle waterfall, the sight of Koi swimming in a small water garden or a variety of birds visiting a birdbath create a peaceful setting, bringing nature into your landscape. In this age of crazy schedules, little down time and high stress having a piece of nature in your yard where you can go to relax, contemplate and unwind is extremely important! How can you create this little piece of paradise? Let’s look at 7 tips to designing, building and maintaining a backyard water garden.

1. The Design Comes First

Whether you are building a house, installing perennial gardens or constructing a paver patio, the design must be completed first…water features are no exception. Mistakes that result from the lack of a detailed plan can cause the water garden to experience problems with leaking water, unhealthy water quality and expensive repairs! Will your garden be formal or natural? Choose a location that is visible from your house or patio and in a mostly sunny location. Site will dictate what type of water falls, filtration system and whether the water garden will contain plants, fish or is pond less. Locating sources for electric, plumbing and low voltage lighting will be necessary before digging the hole! Consult local garden centers, building officials, and area landscape contractors for advice, plans, permits needed and estimates before you undertake the project.

2. Site Selection

If you desire fish you will need plants that will require at least 6 hours of sun each day. Try to avoid placing a water feature under a tree and low areas that will collect excess water during rain storms. Keeping grass clippings, mulch and lawn chemicals (another reason to use organic lawn treatments!) out of your pond will keep it clean and balanced to sustain fish and plants. Flat areas can support a waterfalls by using the excess soil from excavating the pond to create a mound and stream leading to the main pond. Be sure to test the area for rocks and boulders before digging to save you extra work to deal with impediments.

3. Water Garden Construction

Once you have your water garden marked out you can dig the pond by hand or hire a company to excavate the pond with a mini excavator or backhoe. If the pond is a natural, free hand shape be sure to include stakes and lines indicating the pond level. The pond must be level at the top so the water will not seep out at one end! A line level or transit will be essential to determine the top of grade and water level. Ponds typically are 3‘ deep so fish can survive winter conditions and are a safe depth for children that might wander in. Creating shallow ledges around the edges of the pond are important for water plants, to hold stones from sliding and pond access.

4. The Liner Comes Next!

After completion of digging the water garden it is recommended to smooth the sides, bottom and ledges with a soft sand or clay to provide a clean surface for the liner and underlayment. If you plan to have the water feature for many years a 45 mil EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) liner will be a great choice since it adjusts to a wide variety of conditions, remains flexible, contains no plastics and is certified fish and wildlife safe. Because of the shape of a pool, the ledges and depth it is important to measure the size of the liner carefully…better off with a little extra than too little! Contact a supplier with your pond dimensions and they can calculate the size liner you need.

5. Filtration and Skimmers

In the past 10 years water garden filtration has improved tremendously…by mimicking nature. Gardens installed with natural bio filters and skimmers are able to cleanse the water naturally, without a heavy dose of chemical treatments. Equally important to maintaining a balance in your garden are the use of aquatic and shallow wetland plants along with fish which completes a natural cycle…providing oxygen for the fish and the natural breakdown of wastes creating an equilibrium for plant and fish survival and water clarity.

6. Plants and Fish for Your Water Garden

If you want to have fish (Koi, goldfish) you will need to have aquatic plants to provide oxygen in the water, shallow, ledge plants for fish protection and possibly an aerator to create oxygen if the water plants are not effective enough. Equilibrium will only be achieved with the correct balance of both fish and plants. One new type of water feature is the pond less feature that involves a water fall, deep basin and crushed stone. This feature can circulate water without having a pond, filter or fish!

7. Maintenance

The amount of maintenance you will have to perform will depend on the complexity of your water garden, where it is located and whether you have been able to create the equilibrium needed for a natural, sustainable water feature. There are chemical treatments that can be used to clean up a murky pond, but that can be better corrected by finding out what is causing the imbalance…not enough fish or plants, pond located in too much shade, insufficient infiltration or an imbalance of chemicals. In southern New England, if the pond is 3’ or so in depth, fish will survive frozen conditions. Place a small rubber ball or bundle of straw in the water before it freezes over to allow the escape of gases from the fish. Although water falls can run all winter long (except when the temperatures get near zero) it is safer to pull the pumps in late fall and blow out pipes so they will not freeze if the electric goes off. Water features are not maintenance free, however, with the proper design, location, balance of plants and fish they can provide many enjoyable hours in your yard as you bring nature, relaxation and peacefulness into your life!
In my next article I will discuss why fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs and transplant plants in your landscape!

“Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine.”
Slovakian Proverb

Frank Crandall, Horticultural Solutions. Frank is a R.I. resident specializing in coastal landscaping, organic land care, small business consulting, writing, speaking and photography and will be submitting biweekly articles about Landscape Solutions. Frank just published his third book, Creating a More Peaceful, Happy and Successful Life!. You can read more about his book on his website, www.FrankCrandall3.com Comments about Frank’s articles are welcome by contacting him at FrankCrandall3@gmail.com.
 

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• Landscape NOW: 10 Landscape Tips To Get Through Summer Drought
• Landscape Now: 10 Low-Maintenance Trees For Your Yard
• Landscape Now: 5 Tips For Landscape Lighting
• Landscape Now: Beautiful Window Boxes
• Landscape Now: Do Your Own Rain Garden This Summer
• Landscape Now: Fall Is The Time to Restore Your Lawn
• Landscape Now: How + When To Water Your Yard
• Landscape Now: Low-Maintenance Shrubs For Your Yard
• Landscape Now: Organic Landscaping + Taking Care of Soil
• Landscape Now: Organic Lawn Care
• Landscape Now: Upgrade Your Landscape With A Water Garden

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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Frank Crandall, GoLocalProv Landscaping Expert

A water garden can add visual interest to your landscaping, and it’s something you can do with the right planning.

Throughout history people have been fascinated with bringing water into their landscape and gardens…fountains, birdbaths, water gardens and ponds. The calming sounds of a gentle waterfall, the sight of Koi swimming in a small water garden or a variety of birds visiting a birdbath create a peaceful setting, bringing nature into your landscape. In this age of crazy schedules, little down time and high stress having a piece of nature in your yard where you can go to relax, contemplate and unwind is extremely important! How can you create this little piece of paradise? Let’s look at 7 tips to designing, building and maintaining a backyard water garden.

1. The Design Comes First

Whether you are building a house, installing perennial gardens or constructing a paver patio, the design must be completed first…water features are no exception. Mistakes that result from the lack of a detailed plan can cause the water garden to experience problems with leaking water, unhealthy water quality and expensive repairs! Will your garden be formal or natural? Choose a location that is visible from your house or patio and in a mostly sunny location. Site will dictate what type of water falls, filtration system and whether the water garden will contain plants, fish or is pond less. Locating sources for electric, plumbing and low voltage lighting will be necessary before digging the hole! Consult local garden centers, building officials, and area landscape contractors for advice, plans, permits needed and estimates before you undertake the project.

2. Site Selection

If you desire fish you will need plants that will require at least 6 hours of sun each day. Try to avoid placing a water feature under a tree and low areas that will collect excess water during rain storms. Keeping grass clippings, mulch and lawn chemicals (another reason to use organic lawn treatments!) out of your pond will keep it clean and balanced to sustain fish and plants. Flat areas can support a waterfalls by using the excess soil from excavating the pond to create a mound and stream leading to the main pond. Be sure to test the area for rocks and boulders before digging to save you extra work to deal with impediments.

3. Water Garden Construction

Once you have your water garden marked out you can dig the pond by hand or hire a company to excavate the pond with a mini excavator or backhoe. If the pond is a natural, free hand shape be sure to include stakes and lines indicating the pond level. The pond must be level at the top so the water will not seep out at one end! A line level or transit will be essential to determine the top of grade and water level. Ponds typically are 3‘ deep so fish can survive winter conditions and are a safe depth for children that might wander in. Creating shallow ledges around the edges of the pond are important for water plants, to hold stones from sliding and pond access.

4. The Liner Comes Next!

After completion of digging the water garden it is recommended to smooth the sides, bottom and ledges with a soft sand or clay to provide a clean surface for the liner and underlayment. If you plan to have the water feature for many years a 45 mil EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) liner will be a great choice since it adjusts to a wide variety of conditions, remains flexible, contains no plastics and is certified fish and wildlife safe. Because of the shape of a pool, the ledges and depth it is important to measure the size of the liner carefully…better off with a little extra than too little! Contact a supplier with your pond dimensions and they can calculate the size liner you need.

5. Filtration and Skimmers

In the past 10 years water garden filtration has improved tremendously…by mimicking nature. Gardens installed with natural bio filters and skimmers are able to cleanse the water naturally, without a heavy dose of chemical treatments. Equally important to maintaining a balance in your garden are the use of aquatic and shallow wetland plants along with fish which completes a natural cycle…providing oxygen for the fish and the natural breakdown of wastes creating an equilibrium for plant and fish survival and water clarity.

6. Plants and Fish for Your Water Garden

If you want to have fish (Koi, goldfish) you will need to have aquatic plants to provide oxygen in the water, shallow, ledge plants for fish protection and possibly an aerator to create oxygen if the water plants are not effective enough. Equilibrium will only be achieved with the correct balance of both fish and plants. One new type of water feature is the pond less feature that involves a water fall, deep basin and crushed stone. This feature can circulate water without having a pond, filter or fish!

7. Maintenance

The amount of maintenance you will have to perform will depend on the complexity of your water garden, where it is located and whether you have been able to create the equilibrium needed for a natural, sustainable water feature. There are chemical treatments that can be used to clean up a murky pond, but that can be better corrected by finding out what is causing the imbalance…not enough fish or plants, pond located in too much shade, insufficient infiltration or an imbalance of chemicals. In southern New England, if the pond is 3’ or so in depth, fish will survive frozen conditions. Place a small rubber ball or bundle of straw in the water before it freezes over to allow the escape of gases from the fish. Although water falls can run all winter long (except when the temperatures get near zero) it is safer to pull the pumps in late fall and blow out pipes so they will not freeze if the electric goes off. Water features are not maintenance free, however, with the proper design, location, balance of plants and fish they can provide many enjoyable hours in your yard as you bring nature, relaxation and peacefulness into your life!
In my next article I will discuss why fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs and transplant plants in your landscape!

“Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine.”
Slovakian Proverb

Frank Crandall, Horticultural Solutions. Frank is a R.I. resident specializing in coastal landscaping, organic land care, small business consulting, writing, speaking and photography and will be submitting biweekly articles about Landscape Solutions. Frank just published his third book, Creating a More Peaceful, Happy and Successful Life!. You can read more about his book on his website, www.FrankCrandall3.com Comments about Frank’s articles are welcome by contacting him at FrankCrandall3@gmail.com.
 

Related Articles

• Landscape NOW: 10 Landscape Tips To Get Through Summer Drought
• Landscape Now: 10 Low-Maintenance Trees For Your Yard
• Landscape Now: 10 Steps To An Eco-Friendly Landscape
• Landscape Now: 5 Tips For Landscape Lighting
• Landscape Now: Beautiful Window Boxes
• Landscape Now: Do Your Own Rain Garden This Summer
• Landscape Now: Fall Is The Time to Restore Your Lawn
• Landscape Now: How + When To Water Your Yard
• Landscape Now: How To Recover From Winter Storm Damage
• Landscape Now: Landscaping Ideas From Rhode Island’s Best Gardens
• Landscape Now: Low-Maintenance Shrubs For Your Yard
• Landscape Now: Organic Landscaping + Taking Care of Soil
• Landscape Now: Organic Lawn Care
• Landscape Now: Upgrade Your Landscape With A Water Garden
• Landscape Now: Using Rhode Island Native Plants In Your Yard

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San Diego area residents can learn how to save water and grow drought-resistant gardens through a series of workshops offered by the San Diego County Water Authority.

The WaterSmart landscaping workshops, offered on Saturdays at various sites in San Diego and North County, teach participants how to employ urban conservation in their own backyards.

Each three-hour class covers key concepts for water-efficient landscaping.

Participants learn to take a watershed approach to their yards by replacing turf with drought-resistant native and Mediterranean plants, according to the water authority.

They will learn how to capture rainfall through a living soil sponge rich with microorganisms that benefit plants. And they’ll evaluate their yard’s “microclimates,” noting soil conditions and identifying areas that are hot and dry, cool and shady, or windy.

Participants will learn how to select the right plants for each space, and how to group them for maximum benefit. And they’ll how to capture rainfall and how to efficiently use irrigation to minimize waste.

Class handouts will include: six elements of a California-friendly landscape, California-friendly landscape class resources, a sprinkler to drip retrofit guide, rain gardens and healthy soil, a sprinkler to rotary nozzles guide, and planning your project.

The classes will take place in San Diego, Escondido, Oceanside, Vista, at the Helix Water District and at the Olivenhain and San Dieguito Municipal Water Districts.

For a class schedule and registration information, call 619.533.7548 or visit www.watersmartsd.org/

From gardens installed to new hardscape, we offer everything you could ever need to maintain develop a perfect landscape. And with over 20 years of experience and skilled craftsmanship, we can guarantee you will be very happy with your results.

Londrigan Landscaping

Serving Queensbury Surrounding Areas

Call us at: 518-792-4128

View Our Website

Posted: Friday, September 20, 2013 11:13 am

Master gardener volunteer training offered

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September 20, 2013

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Whether one is a veteran gardener or a novice, if you would like to learn more about gardening and landscaping, consider participating in the next Master Gardener Volunteer Level 1 Training Program.

Dodge County University of Wisconsin-Extension will offer a 13-week Level 1 Master Gardener Volunteer Training from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings beginning March 4, 2014 and concluding in late May. Training will be held at the Dodge County Administration Building, 127 E. Oak St. in Juneau. This program is only offered every other year.

The program costs $140 and includes training and a comprehensive set of UW-Extension horticulture publications. The training is open to the general public and participants must be at least 18 years of age. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis and class size is limited to 40 participants. Registration deadline for the class is Feb. 17, 2014 or until the class is full. Register by calling the Dodge County UW-Extension Office at 920-386-3790.

This Dodge County program is not internet-based, but rather features a variety of University of Wisconsin specialists and other guest speakers with expertise and knowledge on a wide range of different topics each week including: preparing soils for optimum plant growth, plant propagation, backyard wildlife, landscaping, insect identification and control, annuals and perennials, fruits and vegetables, native prairies, turf grass management, plant diseases and weed control.

Successfully completing the training program is the first step to becoming a Certified Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Dodge County and Wisconsin Master Gardner Associations. In exchange for training, participants share their time and knowledge in approved education projects in their local communities. To become a Certified Master Gardener Volunteer, participants must complete 24 hours of community service.

Community service work can be accomplished through working on local community projects, providing educational assistance and training, or answering horticultural questions referred to you. Dodge County Certified Master Gardener Volunteers work at local public gardens, nursing homes, community beautification and education projects, home show exhibits, and county fair displays.

For more information about the Dodge County Master Gardener Volunteer Level 1 Training Program or to register, contact the Dodge County UW-Extension office at 920-386-3790 or visit the Dodge County UW-Extension/Master Gardener Association website at http://dodge.uwex.edu/.

More about Dodge County

• ARTICLE: Highway 26 in Dodge County closed for two hours Friday due to crash
• ARTICLE: Waterloo runners take part in invitational
• ARTICLE: Dodge County woman killed by train while walking dogs
• ARTICLE: Mayville woman killed in Dodge County crash

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