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    For fall color, mum's the word - September 30, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    In gardens and on porches near and far, chrysanthemums are as iconic to the autumn season as pumpkins and cornstalks.

    You can find them at just about any supermarket or garden center, and this time of year, they reach a crescendo at Toadflax Nursery in South Glens Falls.

    The chrysanthemum, from Chrysous a Greek word for golden, and anthemon, meaning flower is a perennial introduced to Europe in the 17th century. It is a member of the Asteraceae family.

    Toadflax owner Rich Morris said he gets bored with the general mums that are everywhere, so he carries at least 50 Belgian types, like allegro yellow, coparo pink, Milano white and conaco gold, known for their copious numbers of buds, unique color and flower shape, growing habits and resistance to disease.

    Theres lots that goes into choosing them, Morris said. Were looking for a mum thats going to perform in the landscape.

    If you choose to put them in a planter, you dont have to be limited to just one color or flower shape. Morris likes to mix them in complementary or contrasting blends or in any of a number of combinations with dwarf bidens; carex, Juncus or purple fountain grasses; heuchera, frost-hardy calibracoa and flowering kale plants.

    He advised choosing mums based on their size, their height when mature and what you plan to mix with it.

    Once the end of the season comes and your mums look tired in the container, pull them out and plant them in the ground rather than throw them out with your annuals so theyll come back next year. Just be sure to keep them watered and well mulched around the crown.

    Allison Steele, a growers assistant at Toadflax, said the orange, reds, yellow and occasionally whites are traditionally hardy, but even the unconventional pinks, corals and purples might do well if they are placed in a sheltered location.

    I just dont want to tell people that all varieties are perennials, because thats not absolutely the case. With a little help, a little love and a little attention, certainly they could make it that way, she said.

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    For fall color, mum's the word

    New Oxford Community to Pair Small-Town Feel with Premium Amenities for Ole Miss Students - September 26, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    OXFORD, Miss., Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tall pitchers of iced tea, front porches as long as Paula Deen's drawl and bustling town squares are a just a few of the iconic images often associated with the South. A new student housing development Highland Square taps into this rich heritage by providing Ole Miss students with an unparalleled living experience that preserves the sense of community for which the South and Mississippi is known.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110322/DA69574LOGO)

    Student housing industry leaders and community officials broke ground for this new $40 million student housing project at ceremonies on Tuesday (Sept. 25). The occasion also marked the official unveiling of the development's name. Officials said the idea for the name came from Oxford's own town square, which has been a popular gathering place since the town's founding in 1837.

    "Oxford and the University of Mississippi pride themselves on their rich heritage and the vibrancy of their community," said Andy Feinour, senior vice president of Carter. "We wanted to reflect that in not only the name we chose for the property but also in the way we designed it to instill a town square type of feel to the community's common areas."

    Carter and Chance Partners are developing the property. Campus Advantage, a leading student housing company that manages 48 student housing communities spread across 20 states, will oversee the property.

    Located less than two miles from the University of Mississippi, the 753-bed Highland Square is a master-planned student housing community in which cottages, flats and townhomes will make up the more than 100 buildings spread across 60 acres of Mississippi landscape and add to the 39 existing homes on site that already house students. Its centerpiece will be the Town Center where residents can enjoy a cup of coffee at Common Ground, exercise at the Iron Clad fitness center or simply hang out with friends. The Town Center will provide a sense of community rarely seen at student housing properties and is patterned after Oxford's popular Historic Downtown Square.

    "When it comes to amenities and floor plans, University of Mississippi students have never had as many options as they will at Highland Square," said Mike Peter, CEO of Campus Advantage. "Today's college students demand more from where they live, and Highland Square delivers. Residents will benefit from our highly rated Students First residence life programs that will help them succeed in school as well as help them prepare for life after graduation."

    The list of Highland Square's amenities is long and includes three pools, fitness trails, media center, individual cottage courtyards, community fireplaces, basketball and volleyball courts, a lawn with a stage and games, dog park, car wash/dog wash and media center.

    With construction expected to be complete by July, Highland Square is already accepting leases for fall 2013. More information on the community may be found at http://www.livehighlandsquare.com

    About Campus AdvantageCampus Advantage is an Austin-based real estate firm that offers student housing management, development, acquisition and consulting services. The company works to create winning partnerships between colleges, universities, investors, developers and owners in an effort to help students achieve their academic and personal goals. For additional information, please visit http://www.campusadv.com.

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    New Oxford Community to Pair Small-Town Feel with Premium Amenities for Ole Miss Students

    Vail Landscape Logic column: Pitch the petunias and plant some pansies - September 24, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Fall is in the air and we're ready to see the colors of the new season on our porches and around the patio.

    The last week of September and first week of October are generally the best weeks to freshen the containers and beds with brilliant fall color. The night-time temperatures are much cooler and there are fewer hours of daylight. With the hot days of summer behind, plants can now settle in without heat stress and their roots can take off to get set for winter.

    Pansies and violas are the standbys of fall flowers and for good reason. They are hardy enough to bloom throughout the fall and even during the winter. Best yet, they'll be back early next season with bright spring color.

    If you're a Bronco fan, make a porch container of pansies in team colors.

    o Use a bright orange or blue container.

    o Fill it with team-colored pansies

    o On Bronco Sundays, poke in the team banner attached to a stick or dowel and show your support.

    Other great fall bloomers are aster and mum. Find your favorite colors ranging from lavender and purple to soft and brilliant yellow to rust and bronze. Most asters and mums are perennials you can plant this fall and enjoy for years to come.

    Don't forget foliage for fall combos

    Foliage adds drama when included with flowers because of the deep shades and texture that make these primarily foliage plants distinctive. Incorporate ornamental kale, sedum, coral bells and ornamental grasses into containers and beds alike. The deep hues and texture of the foliage will backstop flowering plants and make their color pop.

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    Vail Landscape Logic column: Pitch the petunias and plant some pansies

    Garber: Pitch the petunias and plant some pansies - September 24, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Fall is in the air and we're ready to see the colors of the new season on our porches and around the patio.

    The last week of September and first week of October are generally the best weeks to freshen the containers and beds with brilliant fall color. The nighttime temperatures are much cooler and there are fewer hours of daylight. With the hot days of summer behind, plants can now settle in without heat stress and their roots can take off to get set for winter.

    Pansies and violas are the standbys of fall flowers and for good reason. They are hardy enough to bloom throughout the fall and even during the winter. Best yet, they'll be back early next season with bright spring color.

    If you're a Bronco fan, make a porch container of pansies in team colors.

    > Use a bright orange or blue container.

    > Fill it with team-colored pansies

    > On Bronco Sundays, poke in the team banner attached to a stick or dowel and show your support.

    Other great fall bloomers are aster and mum. Find your favorite colors ranging from lavender and purple to soft and brilliant yellow to rust and bronze. Most asters and mums are perennials you can plant this fall and enjoy for years to come.

    Don't forget foliage

    for fall combos

    See more here:
    Garber: Pitch the petunias and plant some pansies

    Gardening: Planting fall colors - September 22, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    KUSA - Fall is in the air and we're ready to see the colors of the new season on our porches and around the patio. It's time to pitch the petunias and plant some fall color.

    The last week of September and first week of October are generally the best weeks to freshen the containers and beds with brilliant fall color. The nighttime temperatures are much cooler and there are fewer hours of daylight.

    With the hot days of summer behind, plants can now settle in without heat stress and their roots can take off to get set for winter.

    Pansies and their smaller cousins - violas - are standbys for fall flowers and for good reason. They are hardy enough to bloom throughout the fall and even during the winter. Best yet, they'll be back early next season with bright spring color.

    New pansies this year are Lavender Plum and Mammoth Red. Combine these two for striking color - or mix them with contrasting shades.

    If you're a Bronco fan, make a container full of pansies in team colors. On Broncos Sunday, drop in the team banner that's attached to a stick or dowel to show your support.

    Other fall bloomers are asters and mums. They come in a variety of colors ranging from lavenders and purples to soft or brilliant yellows to rust and bronze. Most asters and mums are perennials that you can plant this fall and enjoy for years to come.

    Don't forget to add foliage in fall combinations. Foliage adds drama when included with flowers because of the deep shades and texture that make these plants distinctive. Incorporate ornamental kale, sedum, coral bells and ornamental grasses into containers and beds alike. Their deep hues and texture will backstop flowering plants and make their color pop. Information courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado - sponsors of the 9NEWS Kitchen Garden and the 9NEWS Water Wise Garden. For help with your landscape needs, go to http://www.alcc.com and click on Find a Pro.

    (KUSA-TV 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

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    Gardening: Planting fall colors

    IT'S OFFICIAL: Nobody Wants A Home With A Garage Anymore - September 20, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Google Maps

    It's not quite a return to Norman Rockwell's Americana, but the rise in the number of new homes with porches hints at a shift in the way more Americans want to live: in smaller houses and dense neighborhoods that promote walking and social interaction.

    Two-thirds of new homes built in 2011 had a porch, a trend that has been on a steady rise for almost 10 years, according to a Census survey of construction. The pace of new homes with decks and patios -- more expensive construction that takes up more space, usually behind homes -- has flattened.

    The share of new homes with front or rear porches has grown from 42 percent in 1992 to 65 percent in 2011, Census data show.

    The data also show that the percentage of homes built without a garage or carport remains at its highest since the late 1990s. At the peak of the housing boom in 2004, 8 percent of new homes had no car shelter. It hit 13 percent in 2010 and 2011.

    "It says something about density and something very positive about public transportation," says Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Homebuilders, "if new construction is starting to be built closer to employment centers or transit."

    "That's what the market wants," says Christopher Leinberger, a developer and a George Washington University professor.

    A partner in Arcadia Land Co. outside Philadelphia, Leinberger says the firm is building mostly townhouses with porches in Sadsbury, Pa., because that's what buyers want.

    "The front porch acts as a social mechanism," says Leinberger, also president of Smart Growth America's LOCUS, a national coalition of developers and investors who promote walking over driving. "You sit on the porch and talk to people walking by without having to invite them in. It's outdoor space without taking up too much space."

    The desire for a more urban lifestyle is mounting as Baby Boomers become empty-nesters and Millennials, entering their late teens to early 30s, are sensitive to saving the environment and money.

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    IT'S OFFICIAL: Nobody Wants A Home With A Garage Anymore

    Boyle woman charged with stealing from Stanford porches - September 19, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    STANFORD A Boyle County woman has been arrested for the second time in as many weeks for stealing crafts and primitives off of porches in north Stanford.

    Lisha Hampton, 51, has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, third-degree criminal trespassing, third-degree criminal mischief and driving under the influence of alcohol.

    Stanford police arrested Hampton Monday night after "catching her in the act," Detective Joe Gilliland said.

    Hampton was caught with stolen items in the vehicle she was driving along Lee Drive, Gilliland said.

    About two weeks ago, Hampton was arrested for similar charges after taking a flag and other porch decorations from multiple Stanford locations.

    Gilliland said Hampton has admitted to selling items she has stolen, which have come largely from homes on the north side of Stanford.

    "She loves the area up around Hilltopper (Drive), that whole area everything north of the bypass," he said.

    Hampton is currently being held on a $10,000 cash bond in the Lincoln County Regional Jail.

    Gilliland said while Stanford police have returned some items stolen by Hampton, they still have more items that no one has claimed.

    He encouraged anyone in the north Stanford area who has noticed items missing from outside their homes in the last two weeks to call the Stanford Police Department at (606) 365-4525.

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    Boyle woman charged with stealing from Stanford porches

    Hartsville amends no smoking ordinance - September 19, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    HARTSVILLE --

    Hartsville City Council gave final approval to an amendment granting an exception to the citys new no smoking ordinance for outdoor patios, porches and decks at bars, but not before tweaking it one last time to extend the exception to patios, porches and decks at restaurants in the city as well.

    Smoking inside the restaurants and bars as well as all other businesses and other institutions in the city will still be prohibited.

    The amended ordinance also relaxes the so-called 10-foot rule for entrances leading to outdoor patios, porches and decks to prohibit smoking within five feet of those entrances. Smoking within 10 feet of all other business entrances is still prohibited under the ordinance.

    The ordinance also still prohibits smoking on public sidewalks in front of restaurants and bars and other businesses.

    Councilman Johnny Andrews, who had previously expressed concerns about exposing underage workers in restaurants and bars to second-hand smoke, cast the only vote against the changes.

    Council also gave final approval to an ordinance repealing previous city ordinances that banned smoking in city-owned buildings, parks and vehicles, since those are all now covered by the new ordinance.

    The new ordinance goes into effect on Oct. 10.

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    Hartsville amends no smoking ordinance

    Fremont police arrest suspected front-porch package thief - September 13, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    FREMONT -- A quick tip for front-porch package thieves: When stealing something, wait to get home before you open it.

    Police arrested a Union City man Tuesday after witnesses spotted him stealing FedEx-delivered packages off porches of homes in the Ardendale neighborhood, said police spokeswoman Geneva Bosques.

    Justin Garcia, 39, was arrested on suspicion of theft after a resident dialed 911 at 2:16 p.m. to report two men riding bikes and stealing boxes from front porches near Winslow Terrace, Bosques said.

    The resident told police he watched the suspects ride away, stop near a fence line of a home and tear open boxes that had the word "Amazon" written on the side of them. The boxes, Bosques said, contained small household items.

    Bosques said that after the suspects opened the boxes, they took some of the items and rode off on their bikes.

    The resident followed them in a car and when officers arrived, they found one of the suspects near the Ardenwood railroad crossings but lost track of him. Police said that suspect is a Hispanic male in his late teens wearing a blue shirt, jeans and a blue and gray backpack.

    The second suspect, who police identified as Garcia, was apprehended trying to flee on his bike. Officers found some of the items that had been inside the boxes in Garcia's possession and arrested him.

    Bosques said that in recent weeks residents throughout the Ardendale neighborhood have reported finding their mail

    Police are asking residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity in the area and to dial 911 if something criminal appears to be taking place.

    Anyone with information about this incident can call police at 510-790-6800 or at the anonymous tip line at 510-494-4856.

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    Fremont police arrest suspected front-porch package thief

    Historic homes in Washington DC area embrace a wealth of significant architectural styles - September 9, 2012 by Mr HomeBuilder

    History is practically everywhere you look in the Washington area. Pick just about any neighborhood, and youll see a plethora of historically significant architectural styles in the housing stock from Queen Anne turrets and Beaux-Arts staircases to Arts and Crafts porches and Mid-Century Modern skylights.

    Take a stroll through Georgetown and youll see Federal mansions, such as Evermay, and Cookes Row, an exa mple of the Italianate style most noted for its elaborate doorways, flat roofs and overhanging eaves.

    Drive through Alexandria and youll see examples of Greek Revivals, with their bold columns, in structures such as the Athenaeum, the peach-hued home of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, and the Lyceum, the citys history museum.

    Or check out the Brice House and the Hammond House, both in Annapolis, examples of the Georgian style noted for distinctive paneled front doors with decorative crowns and pilasters on the side.

    There is a wealth of styles, says Patrick Andrus, a historian with the National Register of Historic Places. In the late-19th and early-20th centuries, D.C. was very cosmopolitan, very receptive to architectural styles. ... D.C. adopted everything that was available.

    Many of those architectural gems still stand, largely because of the preservation movement.

    Preservation efforts by homeowners, historians and groups Cultural Tourism D.C., the D.C. Preservation League, Preservation Maryland, Preservation Virginia and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, just to name a few have been extensive.

    More than 90,000 properties (most of them residential) are on Marylands registry, according to state officials. In Virginia, there are more than 41,000 houses listed as historic, most of them in historid districts, says Marc C. Wagner, designation manager at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

    To date, more than 25,000 D.C. buildings are in a historic district, says Steve Callcott, deputy preservation officer in the citys Historic Preservation Office.

    Says Andrus: Its a rich environment for historic preservation.

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    Historic homes in Washington DC area embrace a wealth of significant architectural styles

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