>> UC Merced: Natural Reserve earns regents' approval

By Kathleen Wong

Rolling grasslands that harbor rare vernal pool ecosystems next door to UC Merced have joined the UC Natural Reserve System. The 6,561-acre Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve will enable students and faculty to study fairy shrimp, endemic plants and some of North America's oldest soils just minutes from campus. Most of California's original vernal pool habitats have been destroyed, making the new reserve a critical refuge for rare and endangered plants and animals.

"It's like taking a national monument and bumping it up to a national park," says Sam Traina, UC Merced vice chancellor of research, of the reserve's new designation. "Having it as part of the UC Natural Reserve System increases its visibility, opening it up to students and faculty from all over the world, and it anchors our commitment to the land and its conservation."

"This new reserve protects one of the most extensive vernal pool landscapes remaining in the state," says Peggy Fiedler, director of the UC Natural Reserve System. "We're deeply pleased and proud to help make this rare place available to scientists, artists, students, and classes over the long term."

The Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve is the 39th reserve in the system, a network of protected areas throughout California providing undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service. The NRS includes more than 750,000 acres, making it the largest university-administered reserve system in the world. UC Merced will perform day-to-day management of the reserve, while the NRS systemwide office will administer it via NRS guidelines. The reserve will be funded in perpetuity by UC Merced and a generous endowment from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

"If you look at the key reasons for having the reserve-education, research, and our requirement to be good stewards of the land-being part of the NRS will help us do a better job of all three," says reserve director Christopher Swarth. "It's a feather in the cap for UC Merced."

The reserve's namesake pools form due to a combination of local soils and California's Mediterranean climate. Winter and spring rains deliver the area's yearly allotment of moisture. But instead of percolating into the earth, a layer of impervious hardpan near the soil surface causes water to pond. Inundation awakens a flurry of life in the pools. Many-legged fairy, tadpole, and clam shrimps hatch. California tiger salamanders emerge from upland burrows and trek to the pools to mate and lay eggs. As the days grow warmer, and the water begins to evaporate, native wildflowers bloom in concentric rings of yellow, white, and blue around pool edges. Young salamanders lose their gills, and leave their natal pools to find a welcoming nearby ground squirrel burrow. The shrimps lay eggs containing embryos in suspended animation. By June, the pools are little more than a memory, and their inhabitants are prepared for triple-digit temperatures and many months without rain.

Few species can tolerate such harsh environmental conditions. For this reason, vernal pools are strongholds of native species that have evolved to cope with short periods of inundation and many months of desiccation. The reserve hosts four out of California's 23 species of fairy shrimp, among them the endangered Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) and vernal pool fairy shrimp (B. lynchi). Other endangered species present include the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and 24 species of endemic, rare and protected plants. The reserve also serves as potential habitat for the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), which occurs on nearby lands.

More than 57 bird species have been spotted on the reserve, including Swainson's and ferruginous hawks, burrowing owls and grassland songbirds. "Sometimes you encounter flocks of horned larks that stream toward you, hundreds of them, in an unending group," Swarth says.

The rest is here:
Merced Vernal Pools join Natural Reserve System

(ANDREW CROWLEY)

At Endsleigh, where the garden relates so strongly to the house, Olga is in her element: she has designed the interior and implemented various tweaks to the exterior. The inside and out work in harmony and reinforce the picturesque style of the architecture as designed by Sir Jeffry Wyatville.

The absence of change to the gardens from the original design is emphasised by leafing through Reptons Red Book for Endsleigh. You can see his watercolours of the original landscape with the overlays of his proposals which look remarkably true to todays views.

Repton did much work for the Duke of Bedford, especially at Woburn, and Endsleigh (a glorified holiday cottage) was maintained, but the design was left pretty much untouched. It stayed with the family until 1955 when it was taken over by relatives of the late dukes, including sons and grandsons. They together formed the Fishing Friends and shared the property.

The garden became rather neglected, but the hurricane of 1987 brought massive tree loss. This event, coupled with a realisation of the importance of the landscape, galvanised the fishing club into action. Members wives joined their husbands and instead of fishing, they were out weeding and restoring.

Olga Polizzi and her daughters bought Endsleigh eight years ago. The head gardener, Simon Wood, had been working there for 14 years and is now in day-to-day charge of the restoration. About half of the 60-acres of woodland has become walkable and are full of stunning specimens acers, cherries, cedars and more including fine champion trees. His programme includes restoring paths and removing much of the self-sown ash and sycamore that has taken over.

Simons favourite part is the Dairy Dell, a steep-sided valley of more than 40 acres, exposed bedrock and many fine trees. There is a stream running through it. The tiny model dairy was built for Georgiana a down-to-earth duchess who married the sixth duke in 1803 who liked to milk the cows. In 1910, more exotic trees were planted here, especially maples and cherries, as a result of the Duke of Bedford funding plant expeditions to Japan.

The garden has other striking areas, such as the hexagonal Shell House and Grotto , which was designed as a summer house for the display of geological specimens. The rockery and grotto have a central pool and a fountain, many beautiful pebbled paths and are connected to the dell by a serpentine flight of stone steps. Another extraordinary feature is a small terrace constructed from sheeps knuckles. These are intricately laid to form hard paving.Presumably, the duke had a thrifty side and lots of sheep. Now, using like-for-like replacements is illegal, so Olga has to substitute special plastic alternatives.

Elsewhere, a few minor alterations have been made to enhance the gardens for guests. Another adjacent terrace was all grass, but to cope with garden furniture it has been surfaced with crushed slate Olgas daughter Alexs idea, which fits in well.

Lawns have been reseeded and the 100m-long herbaceous border (perhaps the longest uninterrupted herbaceous border in the country ) that Repton designed has been renovated. When it was a holiday cottage for the Bedfords, a border full of summer flowering show-offs, such as delphiniums, aconitums and poppies, was perfect, but now other plants, such as hellebores and euphorbias, have been added to increase the year-round appeal. Historic watercolours of their former incarnation have been studied to retain the original feel, though.

Originally posted here:
Happy 200th birthday to a legendary hotel garden

Anyone who has gone to the California Maritime Academy campus to watch a basketball game has likely found the seating area a little, say, snug, if not downright crowded.

That shouldn't be the case when the new Physical Education and Aquatics Center on the South Vallejo campus opens next year.

Under construction since March, the new building will house a large swimming pool, basketball courts, classrooms and various offices.

Construction activity, plus new walls, concrete slabs and other features can clearly be seen to anyone driving by the campus on Interstate 80 or on local streets nearby.

"This is a big project for our little school," said Kurt Lohide, Cal Maritime vice president for administration and finance.

Once complete, the main gymnasium will seat 650 spectators -- about 500 more than the current gym in Mayo Hall.

That old gym plus the existing pool have changed little over the last five decades and hearken back to a time when the student population was about 200, far fewer than the record number of students who have applied for entrance to Cal Maritime, about 1,045.

The new building will have "California Maritime Academy" and "California State University" in large lettering on the outside, making it clear to those driving in the vicinity that Vallejo is home to a state university.

Estimated to cost about $29 million, the new gymnasium and outdoor pool are part of an evolving Cal Maritime landscape which also includes a new dining hall, new bookstore and new building to house the campus police department.

Construction of the new gymnasium is funded through state bonds and represents an expansion of the Cal Maritime footprint well outside its boundaries on Morrow Cove.

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New gym, swimming pool taking shape on Cal Maritime campus

The Kingsmen Pool on a busy afternoon in 1954.

image credit: West Vancouver Archives

Many North Shore residents growing up in the '50s, '60s and '70s took their first swimming lessons at Kingsmen Pool in Ambleside Park.

Overlooking Stanley Park and Lions Gate Bridge, the outdoor pool was once a popular hangout on sunny days.

The photo above was snapped on a busy afternoon in 1954, the year the pool opened.

At first the landmark location was heavily used, but attendance began to decline when the West Vancouver Aquatics Centre was built nearby.

In 1977, less than 11 months after the new indoor facility was created, the Kingsmen Pool was filled in.

This year marks the pool's 60th anniversary.

The landscape has changed a skatepark and basketball courts now take up the area but memories haven't faded.

And there are calls to bring back an outdoor pool to West Van.

More:
Ambleside pool fondly remembered on 60th anniversary

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 17, 2014

San Mateo Architect, Max Woo, has lived in his San Mateo home for over twenty years and recently embarked on a huge remodel project in his backyard. The new landscape design included utilizing an artificial boxwood hedges on existing concrete walls that surrounded the patio, pool, and tennis court areas. The deck was also redesigned, and everything was included to compliment the minimalist, low maintenance theme of the property.

Architect Woo, consulted with his general contractor and Geranium Street Floral for the artificial boxwood hedge. He decided on a UV rated directional artificial boxwood hedge to cover the walls around the pool and deck area. He later extended the hedge wall to cover portions of the tennis court area. The project was one of Geranium Streets biggest installs to-date.

We worked closely with Max and the general contractor to construct the artificial hedge wall so that it would conform to local building codes, and be durable enough to last, said Geranium Street president, Bob Smith. We learn new tricks on each job that helps us to more efficiently create artificial hedge walls... added Smith.

To construct the wall, Geranium Street pros attached blankets of artificial hedge mats to corrugated steel frames and then attached those frames to the ten-foot concrete walls surrounding the back yard. The results were quite impressive and the artificial hedge wall added some much needed texture to the otherwise bare walls. The artificial hedge wall looks particularly nice beside the pool.

An artificial boxwood hedge has good sound proofing qualities, and that is a plus, especially near a pool or tennis court, Smith said. The artificial hedge acts as a muffle to harsh sound waves that echo off of flat concrete walls. This will decrease the noise in the tennis court, or when many people are using the pool or deck area. The other factor Woo liked was that the artificial hedge was maintenance free. Geranium Street Floral has recently installed artificial hedge walls at other properties in San Francisco, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

About Geranium Street Floral: Geranium Street Floral is the premium provider of Outdoor Artificial Plants, Artificial Hedge Panels, Artificial Bamboo, Boxwood Bushes, Boxwood Balls, Topiary, and more. Conveniently located in beautiful San Marcos, CA, theyre here to provide all of your artificial plant needs 7 days a week.

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San Mateo Architect, Max Woo Remodels Own Home with Artificial Hedge Design

Jan. 17, 2014, midnight

THE Albury Council is digging Thurgoona and its residents out of a giant hole that has been an eyesore for years.

THE Albury Council is digging Thurgoona and its residents out of a giant hole that has been an eyesore for years.

The Thurgoona pool will soon be gone, with work already started.

The council set aside $50,000 for the project in its 2009-10 budget, which was not enough.

So it now has $183,280 set aside to remove the pool, compact the soil and extensively landscape the area.

We are elated, absolutely thrilled. It has been a long time coming, Thurgoona Community Centre co-ordinator Sherylyne Moran said.

It gives us an area the community can use.

We want to turn the area into a barbecue and recreation area the community can use.

Concept plans show a community hall on the grounds near the neighbourhood house which would double in size.

Go here to read the rest:
Good riddance to an ugly hole

Pool PlantingGet a list of popular swimming pool plants

A well designed pool landscape doesn't eliminate plants because they are key to solving problems. Plants will screen off unattractive views or create privacy. Plants can ground a naturalistic pool to soften the rock work and make it appear more realistic. The integration of greenery of any kind is what turns a pool yard into a gorgeous landscape, particularly when foliage and flower colors are coordinated with the overall site palette.

Planting is essential to the fantasy backyard. The use of tropical appearing plants is what gives a grotto water feature the look of the South Pacific. For modern landscapes, plants are used in a wholly different way where their forms and textures are an artistic statement in high contrast against industrial materials choices.

Your pool won't exist in a vacuum. It's a vital part of the whole backyard where the landscape provides the perfect setting. This is why pool design is best done by a landscape architect who understands the big picture of site function and circulation so the pool is placed in the most optimal location.

"People are looking for creative solutions for their property," says Chris Cipriano of Cipriano Landscape Design in New Jersey. "The twenty by forty rectangular pool isn't in style any more. They want an enjoyable environment for themselves and their children. No longer holding the status of just a "swimming pool," yards now hold the capability of a private oasis retreat. Customary traveling vacations are limited in a busy family's schedule. This makes the most valuable entertainment place their home, which also makes safety and health facets especially significant."

"Early in the design process we work hard to establish our clients wants and needs through a detailed lifestyle survey. Luxury pools and spas are all about exceeding expectations and enhancing the lifestyle of a family. Our business model is designing and building the entire landscape and that's how we became the top company in our market."

It's important then to consider the landscape as a frame for your new pool. It should enhance pool design and solve problems at the same time. The hardscape will vary according to the style of your pool which can range from streamline modern to a fantasy rock and waterfall oasis.

RocksThe world of rock accents around pools is divided between artificial stone and natural stone. The difference is that natural stone must be hauled and set on site, and due to its weight the use of large boulders can present costly engineering challenges. This is why artificial pool boulder systems are growing in popularity because they are more adaptable to both the site and pool with many more options for you to choose from. What is key, however, is to design planting in association with this rock work to give it a realistic appearance and a solid foliage background for high contrast.

In southern California, Alderete Pools is an outstanding luxury pool builder. "Our specialty is artificial rock," says Shea Alderete. "Consumers think they want natural rock but the reality is that artificial can look like it really belongs there. It's hard to make natural rock blend in. We have twenty years of artificial rock experience and we've carved out a special niche. Anyone wanting a rock pool needs to find a contractor that has a lot of field experience. We're like fine art painters and we do our own style well."

Water featuresThe site and sound of falling water turns a static swimming pool into a beautiful fountain. Waterfalls are typically a part of naturalistic rock pools. For more contemporary or modern design, the more precise water feature is preferred with sheets of water specially illuminated with iridescent backgrounds that give them a sharp glassy beauty. A pool water feature should always be most visible from both the outdoor living spaces and from primary indoor rooms to make it beneficial in the off season too.

Link:
Pool Landscaping Ideas - Landscaping Network

Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday announced a $400,000 grant to Kentucky Highlands Investment Corp. to spur economic growth in southeastern Kentucky.

The state made the grant so KHIC can take advantage of a $1.3 million matching grant from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. KHIC raised $900,000 privately and the state kicked in the rest. KHIC provides loans, equity investments and other assistance to southeastern Kentucky businesses.

The resulting $2.6 million loan pool is a component of an initiative to plan a better future for Eastern Kentucky called SOAR, or Shaping Our Appalachian Region. It was created by Beshear, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, and other local and state leaders.

"Improving southeastern Kentucky's economic landscape is vital to the success of the entire state," Beshear said in a statement. "This region is in dire need of new businesses and more jobs, and these funds will go a long way toward encouraging innovation and putting eastern Kentuckians back to work. I'm proud to partner with local, state and federal officials to offer this support."

KHIC was formed in 1968 to stimulate growth and create employment opportunities in a nine-county region of southeastern Kentucky. KHIC now operates in 22 counties.

Excerpt from:
Beshear announces $2.6 million loan pool for southeastern Ky. businesses

During this time of year I like to reflect upon and appreciate all the blessings in my life (...also eat a lot of carbs and watch TV marathons). But lately I've been dwelling on how lucky we are to have so much amazing art created and inspired by the American landscape. I would have no problem filling hundreds--thousands!--of pages of landscape paintings from East Coast to West that remind me of "home" in the broadest sense.

I could start with landscape artist Frederic Edwin Church. He traveled throughout the Americas, creating works of art that make me want to stay outdoors forever. Twilight in the Wilderness is one of my favorite landscape paintings and captures the natural beauty of America without being a depiction of a specific place.

O'Keeffe's landscape art of New Mexico made such an impression on me when I first saw it that, in a way, it now defines that region for me more than the actual landscape does. The artist was inspired by nature and yet took that into a completely new place, visually speaking; making works that give a sense of the landscape but also bring to mind ideas about vastness, loneliness, and beauty.

Ruscha's roadside gas stations make me a little bit envious because they are of a time and place I never got to see--when taking to the road was an adventure and meant freedom and independence, not the rage-filled grind of today. I also love the graphic, slick, Pop qualities of Ruscha's work--how he can make a gas station feel like it is larger than life with a few diagonal lines, though he simultaneously shows the homage to be a bit absurd as well.

California through David Hockney's eyes is a composite of a lovely urban jungle. His swimming pool paintings give a sense of the West Coast that isn't all glamour and glitz, although he does show off those elements through the bright colors and modern architecture that fills his landscape paintings--and yet there is an introspective quality to the paintings that sometimes goes unsung.

P.S. What artist or painting that is quintessentially "American" comes to mind for you? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Art That Reminds Me of Home

General Press Releases Friday January 10, 2014 15:22

Bangkok--10 Jan--W Retreat Koh Samui

A luxurious four-bedroom residential pool villa is now ready to welcome holiday makers.

W Retreat Koh Samui has finally brought the newest WOW to the tropical island paradise, introducing the newest room category: a four-bedroom Seascape Escape Villa.

Splurge on the next level of ideal retreat in the Seascape Escape Villa- W Retreat Koh Samuis newly-launched four-bedroom retreat. Stretched along the lush landscape overlooking the Gulf of Thailand with an unparalleled breathtaking view is, whether you lounge in a daybed, laze in a bathtub or unwind in your own 15-meter infinity-edge swimming pool. Natural wood and white expanses are accented by warm hues to energize your vibrant experience. Enclosed in an expansive 2,058-square-meter space means you will have never-ending ways to play and unplug, from sharing fresh-cooked dishes and board-games to watching movies with the big screen LED and BOSE sound system and partying by the pool.

While the people are playing, enjoying the high-tech entertainment system in the living space, you can still have your own peaceful moment as all four bedrooms have their own private entrances to guarantee your utmost privacy. Feel the ocean breeze from the balcony then slip into W Signature Bed, feel the luxury of high-quality linens and gaze as the waves are rolling in, your perfect holiday escape certainly happens here.

W Retreat Koh Samui. Located between Maenam and Bo Phut, it has the finest and most pristine beach location in Thailand. The 74 all private pool retreats offer all the indulgence and luxury you could possibly wish for. Ultra chic and cutting edge design is awaiting you, just as the stunning sea views of the most pristine beach location to be found in Thailand.

For more information and reservations, please contact 0 (66) 77915999 or email to bf.wkohsamui@whotels.com

Explore whats New / Next at W Retreat Koh Samui http://www.wretreatkohsamui.com

Chinese New Year is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese around the world. The celebration is on the first day of the month based on the lunar calendar. Nowadays, Chinese New Year is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the...

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W Retreat Koh Samui UNVEILS Its New Retreat Category Seascape Escape, Four-Bedroom Villa