Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) May 30, 2014

Almost a year old, lights.com is ready to celebrate their success and help customers kick the summer season off right with their new line of summer string lights, perfect for any outdoor summer party.

After a year of pursuing their mission of illuminating the lighting shopping experiences for their customers with the lighting industrys widest array of lighting; ranging from flameless candles and string lighting to chandeliers and floor lamps, Lights.com has gained even more insight into what it takes to offer great lighting collections at a great value. Their outdoor party string light collection is a perfect example of that.

Lights.com, founded by husband and wife team David and Sheva Knopfler, originated from a shared passion to create an unparalleled experience and unique catalog for the lighting enthusiast in everyone. Lights.com has quickly become the hub for a wide range of lighting styles. Offering an intuitive interface that leverages exclusive search features and an intense lighting collection, customers can easily shop from thousands of choices with the sites user-friendly design and navigation, with exclusive search tools including the String Lights Finder, the Flameless Candle Finder, and the Lighted Tree Finder, taking the hassle out of shopping for lighting and allow customers to search for the customized lights they need.

Our goal is to be more than just a place to buy a light fixture; we want to be part of the customers lighting experience. As more customers embrace DIY, remodeling and refining their indoor and outdoor living spaces, our goal is to provide the perfect product and customer service to match, said CEO David Knopfler. With popular lighting options varying from vintage inspired fixtures and bulbs, designer lighting, seasonal outdoor string lights, and even remote-controlled flameless candles, Lights.coms success continues to transcend the growing teams expectations.

Lights.com is the perfect outdoor lighting source for the unofficial start of the summer party season. With a variety of cost effective solutions, after Memorial Day weekend, there isn't any more excuses for not having the perfect party, BBQ, or cozy summer evening outside. Brighten up any event with Lights.coms cool and easy string light systems.

About Lights.com Lights.coms mission is to bring innovative, trendy, and inspiring lighting products directly to the consumer. By designing and producing their own lighting, they are constantly innovating and re-imagining lighting products specifically tailored for customers desires and inspirations, making Lights.com the premier online destination for a wide array of quality lights and lighting products for every situation.

Customers can find the countrys best lighting brands on Lights.com including Luminara, Candle Impressions, LampLust, Mathmos, Gerson & more.

Find them online at http://www.lights.com, on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, or dial (866) 490-9358 9-8 EST, M-F. And check out the Lights.com blog for product information, decorating tips, and fun customer service stories.

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Light Up Your Summer Parties with the Coolest Outdoor String Lighting from the New Lights.com

May 29, 2014 // Paul Buckley

Seoul Semiconductor has released a new generation of Acrich MJT 5050 LEDs, with high lumen output, reliability, and cost performance optimized for the outdoor lighting market.

The Acrich series has dimensions of 5.0 mm x 5.0 mm delivering a typical luminous flux of 180 lumens at 20 mA, 64 V, 25 C, 5000 K and can be driven to a maximum current of 60 mA delivering up to 440 lm.

The Acrich series delivers an unprecedented combination of high lumen output, efficacy, outstanding reliability and lm/$ all in one package. The high performance package results in designs fewer LEDs are used, which leads to smaller and lighter fixtures enabling cost savings on a system level. The Acrich series delivers high performance without sacrificing on reliability or cost. The device is an ideal LED for the outdoor lighting market high efficacy and lifetime are critical.

Utilizing Seoul Semiconductor's proven and reliable high voltage architecture, Acrich MJT 'Multi-Junction chip Technology', the Acrich LED eliminates the tradeoff between size and efficacy. Designers can take advantage of the high efficiency of high-voltage DC drivers or eliminate the driver by driving the LEDs directly of AC using the Acrich IC.

The TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is an important metric for the street and area lighting market and Seoul claims the payback period especially for streetlights can be reduced with Acrich LED without compromising on reliability or efficiency.

Related articles and links:

http://www.seoulsemicon.com

Optoelectronics

Original post:
High lumen output LEDs focus on outdoor lighting

North Canton Lawn Services 44720 | Alpine Landscaping 330-896-5640
North Canton Lawn Services 44720 | Alpine Landscaping 330-896-5640 Alpine Landscaping is your best bet for any and all landscaping needs in and around Uniontown, OH! Let them take care of...

By: BestLandscaping InAkron

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North Canton Lawn Services 44720 | Alpine Landscaping 330-896-5640 - Video

Barretstown Glanbia at Bloom 2014
Barretstown and Glanbia will once again join forces and host a unique Barretstown garden experience at Bloom in the Phoenix Park over the 2014 June bank holiday weekend. Designed by the award...

By: Barretstown

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Barretstown & Glanbia at Bloom 2014 - Video

April 1960 view of the waterfall feature at Lake Phalen in St. Paul. (Image courtesy St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

Poetry readings, high school bands, a clarinetist on a canoe and a short procession will inaugurate a restored stone waterfall in Phalen Regional Park.

"It's been off for a long time," said Bryan Murphy, a landscape architect with St. Paul Parks and Recreation, who believes the stone structure hasn't cascaded water since the 1960s.

The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District will host its annual WaterFest celebration on Saturday to coincide with the dedication of the 1950s-era waterfall.

St. Paul Parks and Recreation secured $296,000 from the state Legacy program to improve the water system. Measuring roughly 15 feet in height, the original waterfall drew well water that cascaded over the stones and into Lake Phalen, which was receding in the 1950s.

"It isn't receding now, and it hasn't been for quite a while," Murphy said. The new system draws water directly from Lake Phalen, which travels through ornamental grates along a pedestrian and bicycle trail and over the limestone slabs just above lake level.

"It looks exactly as it did in the 1950s," said Murphy, who believes the water flow is comparable. "It's a really nice cascade -- it's even, and it's a really nice sound. It brings a lot of life to that area."

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. with performances by Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet School, St. Peter's Catholic School and Harding High Earth Club on the bridge north of the park pavilion. A procession to the waterfall will begin at 11:25 a.m., followed by a formal dedication 10 minutes later.

Clarinetist Don Rose will arrive by canoe and perform "Turning on of Waterfall." The waterfall is located in the northwest corner of the lake, near a boat ramp.

Launched in the year 2000, the watershed district's WaterFest celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features fishing, archery, boat rides, Hmong dancers, food trucks and additional events. More information is online at http://www.rwmwd.org.

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Phalen waterfall gets new life with rededication

Garden envy. We all have it, looking at yards that seem more glorious than ours.

If you spend your days tilling, toiling, weeding and watering, while those other gardeners have time for hobbies, entertaining and let's face it, a life it's no wonder you entertain wild thoughts of covering your yard in stone.

Don't give up. You're not an unworthy gardener. You just haven't yet caught on to the secret of having a beautiful, low-maintenance Colorado garden: Xeriscape.

LAKEWOOD, CO - SEPTEMBER 26: The xeriscaped gardens at Kendrick Lake Park and Gardens in Lakewood on Thursday, September 26, 2013. (Photo By Cyrus McCrimmon/ The Denver Post ) (Cyrus McCrimmon, THE DENVER POST)

That term, coined by Denver Water, doesn't mean a barren patch of rock. But it does mean recognizing that astonishingly moisture-rich springs like 2014 are rare events on the Front Range.

The low-water landscape is also low-effort. So once you've tried it, you'd better have a plan for using your extra time.

"My life is complicated with kids and a job. It made sense that my landscape was little work; that other type of landscaping was W-O-R-K, what with mulching and watering a lot," said Pat Hayward, executive director for Plant Select, a program that helps develop and market water-wise plants for the intermountain West. She lives in the foothills of Masonville, just northwest of Loveland.

"When we don't have to use as much water or work as hard," she said, "why wouldn't you want to do this?"

Perhaps it's the allure of the lush, dense landscapes that national magazines flaunt in their pages. Gazing at the cool greens and tropical blossoms, it's hard not to lust after that same look in our harsh, arid land.

"My experience is that we need to permanently shift how we think about water," said Alison Peck, owner of Matrix Garden Design in Boulder.

More here:
Soggy spring is brief: For garden longevity, plant a Xeriscape

AMES, Iowa Complete control of weeds in the home lawn or garden is not a practical goal for many homeowners. A more realistic approach is to minimize weed populations through various control measures.

How do I control dandelions and other broadleaf weeds in my lawn?

Good cultural practices are an important key to controlling broad-leaf weeds in the lawn. Proper mowing, fertilization and other sound management practices help establish a thick, healthy lawn. A dense stand of grass provides few opportunities for unwanted weeds. When broad-leaf weeds invade lawns, mechanical and chemical measures can be undertaken to remove or destroy the weeds.

Removing weeds by pulling and digging is an effective control option in small lawns or when only a few weeds are present. This method is best accomplished after a soaking rain or deep watering.

In many situations, herbicides are the only practical method of weed control. Effective broadleaf herbicides include 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, triclopyr and others. The most effective broadleaf herbicide products contain a mixture of two or three herbicides as no single compound will control all broadleaf weeds. Fall (late September to early November) is the best time to apply broadleaf herbicides in Iowa. Broadleaf herbicides can be applied as liquids or granules. Before applying any herbicide, carefully read and follow label directions.

How do I control weeds in my garden?

Cultivation, hand pulling and mulches are the primary means to control weeds in the home garden.

Cultivation and hand pulling effectively control most annual weeds. Perennial weeds are often more difficult to control. Repeated cultivation or the use of herbicides may be necessary to destroy some perennial weeds.

When cultivating the garden, avoid deep tillage. The roots of many vegetables, fruits and flowers grow near the soil surface. Deep cultivation will cut off some of these roots. Also, deep cultivation will bring deeply buried weed seeds to the soil surface where they can germinate. Hoe or till around plants or between rows and pull weeds close to plants. To effectively control weeds, cultivation and hand pulling must be done on a regular basis through the growing season. Small weeds are much easier to control than large weeds. Its also important to destroy the weeds before they are able to go to seed.

Mulches control weeds by preventing the germination of weed seeds. Established weeds should be destroyed prior to the application of the mulch. In addition to weed control, mulches help conserve soil moisture, reduce soil erosion, prevent crusting of the soil surface, keep fruits and vegetables clean and may reduce disease problems.

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Yard and Garden: Minimizing weeds is a more realistic goal

My dog keeps bringing ticks in, even though I have a tick repellent collar on him. Is there a way I can treat my yard to kill the ticks? Debbie, Burlington.

Talk to your veterinarian about a different type of tick repellent to use on your pet to protect him from ticks and fleas, but also consider some modification to your yard and landscape. Try to reduce leaf litter and ground cover areas where rodents can hide. Keep the grass mowed, and leaves raked and composted. If possible, keep your dog in the sunnier parts of the yard, away from trees, shrubs or wooded areas. If you find ticks on your dog (or on you), it is important to remove them right away to lessen the chance of disease.

Create a tick-free zone by spreading wood chips between your yard and any wooded areas, or use a barrier spray with a product containing permethrin. Permethrin can be found in a formulation for use on dogs, as well. If you decide to use a chemical application, always follow label instructions to the letter. Even though two products may contain the same active ingredient, permethrin in this case, other ingredients may be in there. So choose a spray specifically for use in the landscape for a barrier spray, and a different product for use on your clothing or on your dog.

For more information on ticks, and to find out how to get ticks or insects identified, visit the UW-Extension Insect Diagnostics lab website at http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectlab or visit the page specifically dealing with ticks at http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/wisconsin-ticks.

In addition, you can bring ticks or insects (killed in alcohol and in a container, please) in to the UW-Extension Horticulture Helpline sites at one of the Racine County Office Buildings in Ives Grove or Burlington.

Growing pole beans

Last year I had trouble getting my pole beans to set fruit. Was it too hot for them? Are there more heat tolerant bean cultivars to grow here? Trisha, Racine.

Beans are tolerant of heat, and typically dont have problems with pollination and fertilization of flowers unless the temperatures stay above 95 degrees for two to three days. However, if warm temperatures were combined with drought, you might see a significant decline in fruit production in beans.

Flowering and fruiting processes are sensitive to environmental stress. If the conditions are not right for the plant to produce fruit, fruit will not be produced. Tomatoes, for example, do not like high night time temperatures and will typically drop flowers on hot summer nights. But beans are okay with the warmth unless it is extreme. English peas, Sugar Snaps and other sweet peas are types that are sensitive to heat, but they are exceptions in the bean family. Blue Lake, Contender, French Filet, Yellow Wax and other bean cultivars do well in warm weather as long as the soil is moist.

Lack of water is a big issue for bean production, so make sure to keep those vines well-watered during times of flowering and fruiting. Dont fertilize beans, unless you know your soil is deficient from the results of a soil or a plant/soil analysis. Beans are able to gather their nitrogen from the air, but wont if they are supplied with a luxury amount of nitrogen in the soil. Sometimes too much of a good thing, nitrogen in this example, is really just too much. If the plants are green, growing and flowering, chances are they are getting the nitrogen they need.

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The Root of It All: Keeping ticks out, and growing pole beans

Its a great weekend to get out and boy are there a lot of ways to accomplish that this weekend. You can take on a serious run with the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey which goes for 178 miles through some beautiful landscape. Or you can take a walk around the track at Reno High School and help raise money and awareness for those fighting cancer. You can catch some off road races in Fernley, hit up a 40 household yard sale in historic Old Southwest Reno and attend a NDOW workshop to teach your kids to fish in Verdi.Enjoy!

Friday 5/30

Reno Tahoe Odyssey

This 178 mile relay race winds from Reno to Tahoe and back through some incredible landscape.

http://www.renotahoeodyssey.com

Stuff a bus for seniors:

This event is part of the national celebration of older Americans and it takes place at the Aces Ballpark. The cities of Reno and Sparks are teaming up with the Washoe County Senior Services to fill the bus with things seniors need. They have list of wish items on their website. It runs from 10:30 a.m. -8 p.m.

http://www.reno.gov

Wild West in Midtown:

The Creative Coalition of Midtown is holding an event tonight, from 5-9 p.m. to show off the changes to that part of town and to celebrate the history of the Wild West. 40 businesses are taking part.

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Things 2 Do!

May 30, 2014

Pawtucket Red Sox left-handed reliever Rich Hill has already seen one opt-out date in his contract come and go. Theres another one on tap next month, which could result in the Massachusetts native having to make a decision between staying with his hometown team or seeking what could be a better opportunity with another ballclub.

PAWTUCKET As a 34-year-old with 181 games of pitching experience at the major-league level under his belt, Rich Hill is well aware theres a whole other realm to keep in mind while recording outs on the mound.

I think over the course of your career, wherever you are, this is a business first and foremost. When I was younger, that was something I didnt read too much into, Hill said while standing in front of his PawSox locker earlier this week. Now that I have a good amount of time in the big leagues and in professional baseball, you see your side as a player and from the end of baseball operations. Thats totally understandable.

Hills complete knowledge of the bigger picture comes at a time when the lefty reliever has a contractual opt-out clause thats due to pop sooner rather than later. Hes unsure of the exact date either June 15 or June 30 though the fact Hill has options on the table figures to make the coming weeks interesting.

A native of Milton, Mass., Hill actually had an opt-out provision on May 15. This season marks his second stint with the Red Sox after pitching for his hometown club during parts of three consecutive seasons (2010-12).

He signed a minor-league deal with Boston in February following a 2013 season in which he went to spring training with Cleveland as a non-roster invitee, then went on to post a 6.28 ERA in 63 games for the Indians.

That wasnt a lateral out for the big leagues, which is one of the reasons for not leaving, he explained about the May 15 opt-out, one that came and went with little fanfare. Hopefully, the opportunity will show itself here. Obviously, I would love to stay and pitch in Boston, but if that doesnt happen, theres no 100 percent bias to go elsewhere.

Its your career, and ultimately you want what is best for yourself and obviously for everyone else. At the same time, you have to look out for yourself.

Without specifically referencing the terrible tragedy of having his infant son, Brooks, pass away shortly after his birth the day after last Christmas, Hill noted this marks the first time in his career that he has in-season contingency plans to carefully weigh.

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PawSox' Hill has options to consider