It's warmer, the new Hardiness Zone Map

The new hardiness Zone map from Arborday.org:



I have seen other Blogs discuss this issue, but I couldn't let it pass by without chiming in.

After 30 yrs working in outdoor environments I can safely say things have changed. Definitely changed and who knows if it is for the better. Now here comes a map from the folks at Arbor Day to show those changes.

Now are these changes long-lasting and final? Who really knows. How long have we been keeping records? Real, complete records. 120 years, 150 years? What if we are in a 300, 700, 1,553 year cycle? How about 4,000 year cycle? In another 150 years maybe we'll have Magnolia grandiflora along Lake Erie.

The worst case scenario . . . Global Warming; that it's real, it's happening, and changes will occur. Changes that we cannot stop. Good or bad changes that will effect how humans live on this planet. How humans will co-exist with animals and plants, and the dynamics in play will also change.

So what dies this mean here today? Right here, right now.

Well we get to grow stuff we couldn't grow before, and stuff we didn't want to grow, or run rampant will be allowed to, or continue to happen. Like it or not. We will have to take the bad with the good.

So celebrate, but remain vigilant. For me . . . the biggest news in all this change is the affect on poison ivy. poison ivy (the plant) will benefit by the longer/warmer growing season . . . great. I'm sure folks who deal with kudza/kudzoo(sp?) are happy. The lengthier season will also benefit "fire ants".

Fire ants, nasty fellows-I'm waiting for Jack Bauer to find a way to use them as a torture device. We sure don't need to have their territory expand, but this will most likely happen.

Enjoy your new growing season.

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Trees for the Future

Local children working to make their village a better place to live:

A denuded hillside in Central America:


If you have any interest working/supporting an organization the does reforestation work let me suggest Trees for the Future. I met Dave Deppner several years ago and immediately liked the man. he is honest, sincere, and dedicated, very dedicated. Dave is a strong believer in sustainable agroforestry, from the website:

Tree Planting: We help people plant multi-purpose, fast-growing, ecologically appropriate tree species. By choosing species tailored to the needs of the communities we serve, we create agroforestry systems that rebuild worn soils, reduce erosion, replenish groundwater aquifers and create microclimate conditions that encourage the return of indigenous species.

Agroforestry Training: We have developed a long-distance agroforestry training program that is being used to train community leaders worldwide in sustainable agroforestry practices. The curriculum covers agroforestry techniques, appropriate species, nursery management, livestock management, pest control, and more. Successful completion of an exam is required to graduate. To learn more, click here.

The "Forest Garden": The forest garden is a multi-layered agroforestry system that strives to realize the diversity and productivity of a natural forest with species of plants and animals that are useful to humans. In many cases, we see spectacular harvests from this combination of trees and cash crops. Integrating more crops on one piece of land yields greater total production, reduced incidence of insects and other pests, increased quality of food produced, and lowered damage from storms and soil erosion.

More stripped rainforest:


What's unique about Dave and Trees for the Future is how they spend the money. Dave goes right to the villages and the local leaders. His is truly work at the grass roots level. To educate, train, motivate the locals to become stewards of their land to begin the recovery in the area surrounding their local villages.

Too often the money starts at the top and works its way down through the levels, and in these 3rd World countries there are a lot of levels and a lot of interests, if you know what I mean. Dave has always believed it is better to go right to the people whose lives and villages are at stake.

Leucaena tree project. Leucaena benefits. The Moringa oleifera tree "Horse Radish tree". These are 2 of the several trees used to reclaim the land. Erosion control, feed for the live stock, compost materials, fuel and building materials are factors when considering which trees to use.

The other challenge is getting local farmers to try something different. The peer pressure is great amongst most locals to not change, to do it the same way its always been done. To start anew, to become terrace farmers, and sustainable aware is tough. But Dave and his volunteers keep plugging along, trying to change one farmer on village at a time.

If you're looking for a cause/group to donate time or money, let me again suggest Trees for the Future.

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The Vermont Gardener, a man who loves stone.

How could you not like an post about the use and love of stone. George has written a nice piece about stone, moving stone, and how stone works in his garden.

What I especially liked was his mention of The Forgotten Art of Building a Stone Wall by Curtis Fields. If my memory serves correct this was the 1st book on stone in my library. George is right, it is a small, clean simple book, but if you love stone, and want to build walls it is an indispensable tool in you stone building toolbox.

Thanks George and keeping moving those stones. Nice use of standing stones, look to the last photo in the post.

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Yes, it's about Landscape Design . . . but . . .

Spaz in the wheelbarrow
We have a low spot in a bed where the water will lay for; up to, 24 hours. The soil is clay, and it's a nasty area. I was able to do some mounding in the middle and back part of the bed to raise those areas, however we know beds have to slope down to their edge. What to do, what to do . . .

Well the entire area is low, water collects, I am not going to raise the entire area because a stone walkway is going through next year, and it needs to be at that height to set up a series of steps out of the low lying area. So it's going to stay low.

This means I have to look for plants that will endure this type of culture/micro-climate. I am one of those who would rather find a plant that lives in a certain type of micro-climate than change the area entirely.

What I have learned over my many years is one change leads to another, to another, to another usually affecting another part of the garden in a very negative way. Specifically moving water, drain water, run-off, etc. Water is at the top of the list.

I have also learned there are plants to adapt to almost every climatic, cultural situation. You just have to learn what works where . . .. a good reason to hire the Professional Designer (shameless plug).

But I digress, the plant in the wheelbarrow, along with Spaz, is Acorus gramineus commonly called sweet flag. Acorus is a short grass and does very well in standing water, temporary flooding, and straight clay soils. I have used Acorus in these conditions from zone 4 down to zone 9 with good results.

Spaz had decided to help us out when he jumped in the wheelbarrow and decided to nap instead-typical cat. Anyone on this cold blustery day I thought I would share this photo and talk about plants and drainage.

Sort of kill two birds with one stone. Uh; maybe that's a bad analogy when cats are involved in the story.

Looking at the Urban Environment

A Blog that takes a unique look at the urban environment, the good and the bad, with the decay and the possibilities of all that entails.

The name: Walking Turcot Yards, it's worth a look.

Botanical Space Invaders

So how about Mad Dogs, Englishmen, and Hogweed fields, Hogweed fields ??? Yep, it appears to be one of many that got away.

How do I find this stuff anyway??? Don't ask . . . ..

Rock Piles in the Woods

Rock Piles, that's right, rock piles. This is a Blog about some guys who find strange rock piles in the New England area. Their goal is to promote the sites but at the same time keep them secret.

Give them a look they're worth it!

Feed the Birds Day

Dinner Time

Tomorrow is Feed the Birds Day, Saturday the 28th. Now I do not know who proclaimed this, or certified this, or what makes the 28th the day, but tomorrow is the day. Maybe it is tied into the day we turn our clocks back, which signifies that autumn is flying by and old-man Winter is near, boooo!!!.

I originally found out about this on the Treehugger site, and from there went to the RSPB site. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Where you will find just about everything you need to know about feeding birds, and I mean everything.

When looking at this; I am starting to wonder, is this a British Day, a International Day, or something we've hijacked for commercial purposes?.

Actually I am now really wondering because I don't know if the Brits practice Daylight Savings Time. Would this confuse the Queen? Hmmmm, it seems that this post is more about questions than answers.

At any rate, a Landscape Designer has a responsibility to create environments that our beneficial to our feathery friends. Personally, I like it when the client remarks about being a birder, and for me, landscaping to accommodate that hobby is important. Designing for birds leads to a emphasis on plants that allow for cover, food, water, shelter, and protection from predators.

As for the above photo . . . well predators gotta eat, and out here in the country they do a pretty good job of cleaning up road kill. It is part of the cycle of life.

So no matter who's day it is tomorrow here's to our little feathery friends, now go put the cat away . . . at least for tomorrow.

Sidoarjo, Indonesia no place for me

Mud, mud, and more mud


Indonesia has been having a rough time of it lately with all types of natural disasters. Including earthquakes, volcanoes and that catastrophic 2004 tsunami. Really terrible stuff.

Now, in Eastern Indonesia, East Java (very exotic sounding) comes an unstoppable mudslide. A mudslide that is consuming a place called Sidoarjo, The pictures are unreal, the place is unreal and no one seems to have any answers of when the mud will stop or how much will flow. It may even lead to war.

After doing some reading one thing is very obvious . . . the poor and the downtrodden, those with meager means and abilities seem to be the most affected . . . isn't that how these things seem to happen???

Right now it doesn't quite seem to be the place to live, I think I'll stay in my lttle valley In tuscarawas County.

Avon calling??? I think not . . .

Oh Deer!

 
Well I had an unexpected caller today. "Spike" as the neighbors (all 3 0f them) are prone to calling him just showed up at the front door today. I'm not sure exactly what he wanted but he hung around for awhile, I think he was having a pretty good time. Spike wanted to come in but I didn't think it would be a good idea, besides there was some other opinion on whether or not anyone should come in.





So at the behest of others, Spike stayed outside and the gang stayed inside. Spike wandered down to the old apple tree and everything went back to normal. Well at least, what passes for normal in our part of the World.

What does this have to do with Landscape Design? Not much, but it does have everything to do with the World we live in, and our respect for nature. Which has everything to do with Landscape Design. Enjoy the day.

More on Yesterdays Post

The Circle in Winter

 
I've often talked about how much I appreciate the way water looks in the wintertime and how the liquid flow of the water cuts through the clean white snow.

Before I had designed my 1st firepit in this style I did spend some time contemplating how this would look in the winter- after all it's where we live, we have to deal with the snow, and should appreciate the change of the season. Unfortunately that is something that a lot of Landscape Designers fail to do, and that's too bad because in most of the country(World) we have 4 distinct seasons and all  4 seasons should be planned for. Besides . . . Fred would have done the same thing.

An aside; I had not contemplated the owner adding a bowl to the center of the firepit. She added this brass bowl to burn small fires in. Does it take away from the natural feel of the space-maybe. However you look at it,any Designer should remember we work for the client. Our job is to work with them, using our knowledge,  the cultural concerns of the site, and the clients wishes, dreams, desires for their landscape.

And celebrate all that nature has to offer us.

The Total Waterfeature

This is a shot that shows the upper falls the upper pond and the series of falls that I talked about yesterday and the day before.

Are there things I would do different if I built it now??? You bet. As I see it if you are not constantly evaluating and critiquing your work-then you will never get better. No matter how happy the client is.

More on "The Falls'

This is a continuation of yesterdays post. This set of little falls is a little further along the waterfeatures path.

The one thing I would like to point out here is notice how the 1st falls, falls directly into a pool of water and the second falls lands directly onto a splash stone. These two distinctly different sounds play off of each other a create a water harmony for the listener. Its what I like to call an indiscernable rhythm that always has interest for the observer.

This view is from the bottom of the stream. The stream falls off into a 110 gallon tub that is buried from view. The pump in the container sends the water up above the falls that was posted yesterday.

A few tidbits: The stone is a West Virginia toprock that has a lot of interesting color. You might also notice the mulch is pine straw which means I installed this job in the South, South Carolina to be exact.

It is almost 100% in the shade, which means almost zero algae problems, it also means very few option on blooming aquatic plants-but it is supposed to be a woodland stream so I think it worked out okay.

The Falls

Can you build it?

Summer Snowballs, the Viburnum

 If you like-love Viburnums you gotta love this one. I was driving home from an appointment and ran across this beauty in a real small Ohio town, it looks great doesn't it.

People are always asking me about small trees, I want small trees. Well here you go there are several Viburnums that go over 10.0' feet in height including

1. Viburnum sieboldi 'Seneca'
2. Viburnum x rhytidophylloides 'Allegheny'
3. Viburnum prunifolium
4. Viburnum lentago
5. Viburnum d. 'Autumn Jazz'

So look into this set of woodies you won't be disappointed, as for the professionals we don't use Viburnums enough either and I can't explain why. Spring/summer color, good strong foliage, heavy fruiters, and usually good fall foliage. I just don't get it. I myself am a big culprit and today has reminded me again of the fact that every yard should have some Viburnum.

They are especially useful as a wildlife, bird attractor, screening, or naturalizer also.

More Appreciation for Nature

I've said it before and I will say it a million time more. "Landscape Designers need to spend more time in the study of nature". This is usually one of my big mantras when talking about building waterfeatures but it applies to every other part of design-study nature. Folks always want to know about butterfly's, what do butterfly's like? what do they go to? etc., etc., Well I guess they like "thistle" all types of thistle and some other well known stuff.

My real point is don't neglect the natives, add some of the rough looking ones into those perennial borders, or find pretty ones-whatever. Just go out and take a look at what is attracted to what, how the combinations work, and so on.

Its Joe-Pye time . . .
Before I took off this morning I dropped by a couple Garden Blogger sites and they were lamenting on how bad, colorless, ratty there gardens were looking, How it was too hot, or not enough water, or . . . just, whatever.

It was so darn depressing, I had to quit reading. As I was driving down some of Ohio's finer back roads I could not get over how much COLOR there was, seemingly everywhere on this very bright very sunny day. Pinks, yellows, purples, magentas, more yellows, blues, whites-lots of whites (it's Queens Anne Lace time also) . . . color everywhere!

Broken record time-look to nature, everyone of the natives I studied this morning has some other cousin that's been hybridized, cultivated, fawned over. Absolutely no reason not to have lots of color in the garden right now, and vibrant, and alive especially with the grasses about to take center stage.

Another big observation, Massing . . . please note when using meadow style flowers-use more than one. Put groups together, make a bold statement. Mother Nature does, you are allowed to also. None of this onesy-twosy stuff. How about 10,12, 17, or 25 yeah! that's it.

Hay!!!
There seems to be universal acceptance that bales (square or round) of hay/straw laying in a cut field bring a smile or warm fuzzy feeling to every observer, it sure does mine. I love to look at this type of scene and am alway on the lookout for another. So the question is . . . is why? What is it about this scene that brings universal love?

Backyard at Dusk

"The value of practicing nonjudgemental looking is that the longer we look, the more we see."
---Peter London

"Supreme illumination is an arrow straight to hell."
---Zen doctrine
 
"Sensitivity to what is missing is as important as that what is lacking".
--- David Slawson 

An Appreciation of Stone 3

  
The stone you are looking at was a shot I took on one of my sourcing and buying trips into the North Carolina mountains. There were several guys who had access, or owned property where large, and I mean large masses of fieldstone would be scattered on the mountainside.

Going after the right stone was so much fun it never ever felt like work. It was always a great time going after the good stuff, and hearing all the stories along the way in getting stone off the mountain. I do mean great stories. Rolling Bobcats (the machine), flipping trucks (big dump trucks) and of course the rattle snake stories. Hey, snakes love stone. It's not snakes on a plane, more like snakes in the boulder pile.

Anyway this boulder caught my eye and I was happy to get a great shot of it, I use to use it in presentations where I would talk about this particualr mountainside as my "office". I had spent a lot of time up here pulling stone for jobs. Mostly waterfall/ stream jobs, or outcropping work-perfect stuff.

I'm sure any work I do in the future in the Southeast will lead me back into these mountains in search of the perfect boulder.

An Appreciation of Stone 2

 
This was taken in Central Ohio last fall along the Kokosing River. It is so beautiful in its utter simplicity that there's nothing to add.

Except . . . . I wish I had done that. 

Nature as Teacher (3) Setting Stone

The unusual alignment of the upright stone really appealed to me. This stone added something to the space that I found very compelling. Though the stone is much smaller it adds a strange kind of balance to the space. and also acts on it's own. I guess I am a sucker for upright stones like this-they send a great message or add character to their space.

When it came time to build this set of vertical falls I really wanted to try and add some uprights to the composition. Not only do they hold the left side of the "build" together, the two stones bring "something powerful" to this designed and built waterfeature.

It's been written in a lot of literature about stone pointing-directional and all types of symbolism with the uprights, history abounds with this discussion. well I just really like the look and the way the stone seems to speak for itself-very powerful. Plus I feel good about using the uprights because I have seen the same pattern in the natural World.

In most cases the majority of the stone should be composed with the grain running in the same pattern-to mimic what occurs naturally. Something a lot of professionals seem to forget, not think about, or just plain dis-respect the occurrences in the natural World.

If you really get out and study stone as it occurs you will see the "Contrarian" stones in their natural settings and understand where this type of stone work happens. Big rushing violent water, long drops, cliff bottoms, geological catastrophe, etc.

So break the rules of stone setting-only after you have learned the rules-and most importantly studied the occurrences in the natural World.