Jan. 9, 2014, 7:48 a.m.

Beau Edwards and Marita Van Dermeys at Coledale rock pools. Photo: CHRISTOPHER CHAN

Source: Illawarra Mercury

When the tide is high, its easy to overlook the Coledale ocean pool. Carved deep into the rock between the pebbly shore and the wide ocean, it could be mistaken as part of the natural landscape.

That is until you walk a little closer, and notice swimming caps rhythmically bobbing up and down the length of the pool, and groups of young girls in mutilcoloured rash vests perched on the edge before practising their perfect dives.

Like all the Illawarras ocean pools, it is beloved by locals and visitors alike. When the Wollongong citizens panel recommended two or three pools be reduced or run to fail to cut costs for Wollongong City Council, the outcry was swift and strong.

No-one wanted the pools to close, with the council sent 360 responses in relation to the suggestion.

Built by volunteers in 1915, the Coledale rock pool has been the swimming spot of choice for many for almost a century.

Some visitors just want to cool off in the shallows, others are more serious about their strokes and continue to swim on frigid winter mornings, steadily tallying lap after lap.

Then there are those who choose not to jump in, preferring to simply sit on the bench and gaze out at the ocean.

Read the rest here:
Ocean jewel almost 100 and still going strong

Jim Neri grew up on the bluffs and beaches of La Jolla, gaining an appreciation for the design subtleties found in both natural and built landscapes. Schooled in horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and armed with a masters degree in landscape architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, he sketched his way through Europe, and designed the great outdoors with a San Diego landscape architecture and planning firm before founding Neri Landscape Architecture in 1997.

Jim Neri

His work on civic projects and zoological gardens has garnered several Orchid Awards from the San Diego Architectural Foundation and earned Neri Landscape Architecture a reputation for design excellence. He is a past member of the San Diego Public Art Committee and Mayors Tree Advisory Board, and is currently working locally to improve the walkway at the Childrens Pool, re-vegetate the bluff at Goldfish Point, and finish improvements at WindanSea Beach. Neri is married and has two children.

My mother. She drove my two sisters and me here in 1965 from Las Vegas, keeping us busy by tossing handfuls of popcorn into the back seat. It was her choice to move us to either La Jolla or Albuquerque, and I thank her often for heading west.

If you could snap your fingers and have it done, what might you add, subtract or improve in the area?

Our shoreline parks and beaches are our most photographed and advertised resources, but they get short shrift when it comes to public funding. A civic-funded survey of our beach parks and public access easements and a living plan for their improvement and upkeep would be a first step to protecting these common treasures. The next step would be the long-term funding and snap!

Who or what inspires you?

That a group of dedicated people with divergent ideas can enter a room and come to consensus on a single subject is a constant source of inspiration to me. It proves that we have more in common than we think we do that, and nature.

If you hosted a dinner party for eight, whom (living or deceased) would you invite?

Invitation would go out to: (Roman consul) Sulla, Nelson Mandela, Benjamin Franklin, Joan of Arc, Neil Young, Thomas Jefferson, Jane Austen and Wendy Neri.

Read the original:
Landscape architect Jim Neri has designs on La Jolla’s scenery

Jan. 8, 2014, 9 p.m.

The Coledale ocean pool is well-used by locals and visitors in all seasons. Pictures: CHRISTOPHER CHAN

MERCURY SERIES - Saltwater sanctuaries

When the tide is high, its easy to overlook the Coledale ocean pool. Carved deep into the rock between the pebbly shore and the wide ocean, it could be mistaken as part of the natural landscape.

That is until you walk a little closer, and notice swimming caps rhythmically bobbing up and down the length of the pool, and groups of young girls in mutilcoloured rash vests perched on the edge before practising their perfect dives.

Like all the Illawarras ocean pools, it is beloved by locals and visitors alike. When the Wollongong citizens panel recommended two or three pools be reduced or run to fail to cut costs for Wollongong City Council, the outcry was swift and strong.

Beau Edwards and Marita Van Dermeys at Coledale rock pools.

No-one wanted the pools to close, with the council sent 360 responses in relation to the suggestion.

Built by volunteers in 1915, the Coledale rock pool has been the swimming spot of choice for many for almost a century.

Some visitors just want to cool off in the shallows, others are more serious about their strokes and continue to swim on frigid winter mornings, steadily tallying lap after lap.

Read more from the original source:
Seaside jewel almost 100 and still going strong

Jan. 8, 2014, 9 p.m.

The Coledale ocean pool is well-used by locals and visitors in all seasons. Pictures: CHRISTOPHER CHAN

MERCURY SERIES - Saltwater sanctuaries

When the tide is high, its easy to overlook the Coledale ocean pool. Carved deep into the rock between the pebbly shore and the wide ocean, it could be mistaken as part of the natural landscape.

That is until you walk a little closer, and notice swimming caps rhythmically bobbing up and down the length of the pool, and groups of young girls in mutilcoloured rash vests perched on the edge before practising their perfect dives.

Like all the Illawarras ocean pools, it is beloved by locals and visitors alike. When the Wollongong citizens panel recommended two or three pools be reduced or run to fail to cut costs for Wollongong City Council, the outcry was swift and strong.

Beau Edwards and Marita Van Dermeys at Coledale rock pools.

No-one wanted the pools to close, with the council sent 360 responses in relation to the suggestion.

Built by volunteers in 1915, the Coledale rock pool has been the swimming spot of choice for many for almost a century.

Some visitors just want to cool off in the shallows, others are more serious about their strokes and continue to swim on frigid winter mornings, steadily tallying lap after lap.

The rest is here:
Coledale jewel almost 100 and still going strong

This is the first in a series of articles with tips for maintaining your landscape, using 90 percent less time and effort compared with traditional methods. Each months column will lay out what you need to do, based on the weather patterns here in Waltham. In other words, we will follow the local plant phenology (the study of how seasonal light changes and weather influence plant life cycles) for a do-it-right-the-first-time approach that provides safety, value, convenience and beauty through horticultural expertise and sustainable design.

-Safety: Removing hazardous sticks and branches, blocked sight lines, slippery areas and poison ivy, while maintaining effective lighting, drainage and security.

-Value: Adding to your property value through aesthetics, better air quality, rainwater management, reduced noise and an improved balance of shade vs. sun.

-Convenience: Using the proper tools and correct timing for results that last longer, keep you and your neighbors more satisfied, and provide faster completion of seasonal chores at lower cost.

-Beauty: While effecting safety, value and convenience, also gaining proper proportion, balance, form and density as well as color. Making everything from drainage management to the development of utility space meet your aesthetic standards that consider key views, seen from both inside and outside you home.

No matter the size of your property, these principles are the same, and become only more important within the small spaces typical of many Waltham yards.

January: Systems Documentation

You may perceive our cold Waltham Januaries as a rest time for landscape management, but in fact this is when we do critical work that sets the course for the year.

Most property owners are at the mercy of their memories to keep track of what has been done in their landscapes and the locations of the underlying systems. This causes waste when the person with the institutional memory leaves, and someone new must start fresh, or when contractors do harm or need to take more time and charge more money because of unknown factors such as the depth of pipe, location of wire, or species of tree.

See more here:
Waltham Voices: A monthly guide to maintaining your landscape

Jan. 8, 2014, 9 p.m.

The Coledale ocean pool is well-used by locals and visitors in all seasons. Pictures: CHRISTOPHER CHAN

MERCURY SERIES - Saltwater sanctuaries

When the tide is high, its easy to overlook the Coledale ocean pool. Carved deep into the rock between the pebbly shore and the wide ocean, it could be mistaken as part of the natural landscape.

That is until you walk a little closer, and notice swimming caps rhythmically bobbing up and down the length of the pool, and groups of young girls in mutilcoloured rash vests perched on the edge before practising their perfect dives.

Like all the Illawarras ocean pools, it is beloved by locals and visitors alike. When the Wollongong citizens panel recommended two or three pools be reduced or run to fail to cut costs for Wollongong City Council, the outcry was swift and strong.

Beau Edwards and Marita Van Dermeys at Coledale rock pools.

No-one wanted the pools to close, with the council sent 360 responses in relation to the suggestion.

Built by volunteers in 1915, the Coledale rock pool has been the swimming spot of choice for many for almost a century.

Some visitors just want to cool off in the shallows, others are more serious about their strokes and continue to swim on frigid winter mornings, steadily tallying lap after lap.

Read more here:
Coledale jewel almost 100 and going strong

The landscape for Steilacoom High School boys swimming has shifted.

Thats because Ben and James Scott have rattled the foundation and turned the Sentinels from a 2A SPSL afterthought and a program with no swimming pool into a state powerhouse, even if they still lack that home pool (they swim at either Clover Park or Lakes High School).

Upon seeing the team increase participation from 15 to 35 swimmers, James declared boys swimming the best (sports) team at Steilacoom. Its been great to be a part of this teams rise.

Since their arrival, the Sentinels record book has been rewritten. Ben broke six individual records last year, and James set the new mark for the 100-yard breaststroke. Ben, James, Andrew Gonzalez and Andrew Lamb also own the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay records.

Last season, Ben won a state championship in the 100 freestyle

and the 100 backstroke while Steilacoom had its highest team finish (fourth place) in the 2A state meet behind winner Archbishop Murphy. James finished fourth in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

They had a solid first season together, to say the least.

This season, Ben (five), a senior, and James (three), a sophomore, have already qualified for state in eight combined individual events. Both also qualified in the 200 medley relay along with Gonzalez and Lamb.

Ben and James have swimming in their blood, Sentinels coach Kathy Casey said. Theyve been swimming all their lives in club swim with their older brother Sammy. It just comes naturally for them.

Sammy Scott, Jr., a 2011 Steilacoom graduate who competes for Arizona State University mens swimming team, has been a driving force for both his younger brothers all their lives.

See original here:
Steilacoom brothers have swimming in their blood

By Steve Jacobs

Although it can be hard to tell here in San Diego, with our blue skies and t-shirt weather, it is winter. Most of us associate winter with the holidays, family time, and curling up by the fire, not with spending time in our gardens. Thats what spring and summer are for, right? Well, not necessarily. There are definitely things to do in the garden this time of the year. One is to prepare your garden for the freezing temperatures that have been forecasted to occur in a few weeks time. Also, there are steps you can take in winter to maintain the overall health of your garden. Heres a great list to keep your landscape in top form throughout the year:

If youre not satisfied with the results of your current landscape maintenance company, January is a great time to consult with Nature Designs to discuss improvements in your landscape.

For more information on what we can do for you, log ontohttp://naturedesigns.net/ or call us at(760) 945-4321.

Related posts:

Short URL: http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/?p=29364

See the original post here:
Winter Tips for Your Rancho Santa Fe Landscape

WHO BUT AN author would base the design of her garden on a poem? When J.A. Jance and her husband, Bill Schlib, bought a home in Bridle Trails nearly a decade ago, they consulted Alan Burke of Classic Nursery and Landscape Co. When Burke suggested using words in the garden, Jances first thought was Are you kidding? I write murder mysteries.

Then she remembered hearing Cecil Day-Lewis read his poem Baucis and Philemon, when she was a student at the University of Arizona. Jance kept that love poem, based on an ancient Greek myth, in her heart all these years. Now words from it are engraved here and there throughout the garden, creating both a literary atmosphere and also the feel of a treasure hunt.

I havent had the good fortune to work with as many writers as Id like, says Burke, who has used literature as a theme in his award-winning gardens at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. In Jances garden he was encouraged to use words as the cornerstone of the design.

Burke started out with a mess of a property that included the remains of an asphalt go-cart track, a leaky fish pond and broken waterfall. Over the years, hes worked with Jance and Schlib to transform the place into a mirror of their interests and tastes. The house is golden-colored stucco, and grandly scaled with generous porches and terraces. The outdoor kitchen and cabana are large enough to entertain the couples extended family. We can seat all 17 kids and grandkids for dinner, says Jance. This covered area by the pool is the spot-of-choice for rainy-day barbecues and marshmallow roasts with the grandchildren. The fountain, hot tub, swimming pool and warm desert colors remind Jance of her history and second home in Arizona.

In 2002, Schlib and Jance tried downsizing to a Seattle condo. That didnt work out very well, and they moved to the Eastside to be close to their daughter and grandchildren. Now Bella, their rescue dachshund, has the run of a full acre of gardens.

How does this prolific writer, with 20 million copies of her books in print, find a moment to get outdoors and enjoy her garden? She writes in a comfy chair overlooking the pool, sheltered by the homes extended roofline and warmed by a heat lamp. This is where she recently finished her 48th novel.

From Jances writing perch, she can look down a stone pathway and steps to the restored fish pond, which is all too often visited by heron in search of a snack. The fan palms, rhododendrons and azaleas around the pond were original to the garden. Burke brought in stone, laid terraces, installed a fountain that creates enough water sound to muffle traffic noise, and planted dark red Japanese maples, as well as ornamental grasses and perennials, around the swimming pool.

To flank the pond, he added gunnera, their vast leaves lending a tropical feel to the garden. Behind the pond is a stone circle with a linden tree and an oak, just as in the poem that inspired the garden. Over in a sunny corner are raised beds thick with herbs and vegetables. Bills the cook, says Jance, although she takes obvious pleasure in the kitchen garden.

When I came to Seattle from Phoenix in 1981, a refugee from a bad marriage and a worse divorce, driving a used car I hadnt paid for yet, I never envisioned this, says Jance of her word-filled paradise on a hilltop.

Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer. Check out her blog at http://www.valeaston.com. Mike Siegel is a Seattle Times staff photographer.

Original post:
Author J.A. Jance’s garden brims with beauty and thoughts that inspire

Searching through our online gallery you can find some of the best pictures and ideas for pool landscaping in 2014. With every New Year come new design trends for both interior and exterior dcor, and landscaping around pools is no exception. Decorating the area around a swimming pool is a very important aspect of your backyard landscape because you will want to make the space as beautiful as possible. There are many outdoor pool decorating ideas that you can choose from to help you find the perfect design for your space. You can plant trees and bushes around your deck, have potted flowers, or design a colorful garden behind your pool. If you live in a tropical environment planting exotic poolside palm trees will make your backyard an outdoor oasis. No matter the size of your property, with the right landscaping you can create beautiful backyards with a pool inground to enjoy year round. Choosing between swimming pool landscaping plants may seem difficult, but there are many DIY home design ideas that we can help with to create your dream home.

There are many online resources to make you landscaping plans easier. You can find many photo galleries that can show you different nautical poolside dcor trends in both plants and patio furniture. You can also find luxury swimming pool ideas and pictures to make your backyard a look like a designer home. These trends include planting tropical vegetation such as palm trees or even installing premier pools with waterfalls in your yard. Looking through dream pool landscape photos can help you to plan a beautiful sanctuary for you to relax in during the warm months of the year. If you are in the market for a house and wish to have a place to swim, you can even find new home pool landscape pics online so that you choose the perfect place. The landscaping element of pool design is a very important feature. Choosing the proper plants for the area is vital so that you get the look you want. By looking through pictures of pools with landscaping you can find design inspiration to get an idea of where to place your plants as well as what types to have.

In addition to looking at pictures for ideas for you pool and landscape design, there are tools online that can help you diagram your plan. 3D software programs that allow you to design your own pool online complete with landscaping tools to get the full effect. With these tools you can create a blueprint of your entire backyard and then add different plants and trees to design your landscaping. A great idea for 2014 pool designs for small backyards is to build a fence out of bushes or hedges. Holly bushes or Green Giant trees are great to plant around your perimeter to build a natural privacy fence because they are fast growing and reach tall heights. When you have a swimming space in your yard you will want to have privacy from the rest of the neighborhood so you will want a fence. But instead of installing a wood or metal one you can use plants to create a privacy fence. You can search backyard pool landscaping photos to get ideas on how to build a natural fence around your swimming area.

The type of plants that you choose to have around your pool is important. Luxury pool enclosures can produce a lot of humidity that can harm plants, in addition to intense sunlight that can also damage your landscaping. Therefore you will want to choose vegetation that can withstand humidity sunlight, and the chemicals from pool water splashing on them. Adding ornamental grasses or some broad-leafed evergreens are great simple landscaping ideas for a pool area. Trees surrounding your pool can add beauty to your yard while also providing shade during the hot sunny summer months. If you live in a warm environment that does not have frost during the winter you can plant Banana trees around your small fiberglass pools to create a tropical feel. These have beautiful long broad leaves that can create the atmosphere of an island escape. Adding flowers to you landscaping are great colorful options for small pool ideas. One great flower is the Hibiscus; its a beautiful white and pink flowered plant that has a nice tropical feel to it.

Flowers can add a beautiful touch to any type of landscaping for traditional or modern pool shapes. Whether you are decorating above or semi inground pools, the key to flower arrangements is the placement. You want your pool to be the main focal point with the garden accenting it. Adding bouquets of Aeonium Rosettes to your pool landscape is a great option because not only does this plant add vibrant color, but it is also very low maintenance. This plant is drought-tolerant by storing water in its leaves and roots, it also requires very little grooming. The rosettes come in a variety of shapes and sizes making for great landscaping ideas for small yards. Colorful plants can also be a great accent to ceramic pool tile or lining in your pool. Popular colors for the insides of pools are blues, greys, and greens. So adding trees with deep greens or flowers with dark pinks or red tones to them can be great accents to your swimming pool tiles.

View post:
Photos of Swimming Pool Landscaping Designs Ideas Plans