Tuesday 23 May 2017

Gardening is sexy, says celebrity landscaper Durie | Reuters

By Miral Fahmy

| SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) - Landscape artist and environmental activist Jamie Durie is on a mission to make gardening sexy -- and to save the planet one backyard at a time.

"Gardening is no longer a granny sport," the Australian gardening celebrity told Reuters during a recent visit to Singapore, where he is landscaping a luxury housing compound.

"Gardens are now a reflection of your personality as much as the rug on your floor or the jewellery around your neck. They are a connection to nature, a sanctuary."

A self-confessed frustrated architect who "paints with plants", Durie is a bit of a pin-up boy for gardening.

A qualified horticulturalist, he is the founder of the award-winning PATIO Landscape Architecture Design (www.patio.com.au) and author of five books on landscaping. He was host to popular Australian TV Sprinkler System Installation Rockwall gard en makeover show "Backyard Blitz" and currently hosts long-running American gardening and outdoor show, "The Victory Garden", for U.S. network PBS.

Durie also trained with former U.S. vice president and environmentalist Al Gore to become an environmental ambassador.

Q: How can landscaping help the environment?

A: Any plants that you can get into the soil will help absorb carbon dioxide emissions, and yes, it is possible to have urban developments and sustain the environment -- that's where landscaping comes in.

Also, if you take care of your own garden, it encourages others to do the same and then we'll be saving the environment one small backyard at a time. That's why Sprinkler System Installation I try and make gardens sexy, an evocative space that provides a destination, not just something that you see from behind your kitchen window.

Q: So, is gardening fashionable now?



A: Certainly! People are becoming more creative and they recognize that gardens are as much a part of their decor as their living room. There's also a trend towards going back to nature, towards organic produce because of all the chemicals and hormones and gene splitting... that is more dangerous than actual warfare. Growing organic produce has never been more popular and it will continue to grow. We're in the middle of an organic revolution.

Q: What inspires your designs?

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A: Everything. I travel extensively, so I often gain inspiration from the natural landscapes I see. You have to be receptive to your surroundings and keep your eyes open. One of my designs was based on a crack in the pavement. The bigger my library of concepts, the more I've got to give.

Q: Creating a beautiful garden can be very expensive and also requires space -- luxuries many people don't have.

A: That is true, but I want the homeowners of today to fast-track to what the older generation have achieved after years of working: the nice house with the big garden. See what gardens can do for you! They give you peace and tranquility. My advice would be to look at the value of your property and use that as a benchmark to decide how much to spend on your garden. If you're spending less than 5 percent, that's skimping, you can do better. And if you don't want to do it for you, do it for http://www.truevalue.com/thumbnail/Lawn-Garden/Hoses-Watering/Underground-Watering-System/pc/10/c/146/1418.uts your kids. Do it for the environment. It's your responsibility.

Q: Do you have any tips for city-dwellers who would love to have a garden but who don't have the time or the space?

A: Go to your local nursery and start taking photos of plants you find attractive. Go to the botanical garden on the weekend and see how plants are arranged. Fall in love with the plants and then take them home. By growing a plant, you're empowering yourself, giving yourself confidence, demystifying nature.

Everyone can have a little patch of paradise, there's no excuse not to.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gardening-jamiedurie-idUSSP18722020071015
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Friday 12 May 2017

Job Description of Landscape Designers: Know What They Do

Landscape designers are responsible for combining the elements of art and science into a display of beauty, that is created by determining whether the constructed structure has a suitable match with its surroundings. Generally, a landscape designer performs the task of creating designs, making a detailed description, and analyzing the cost and expenses of several recreational projects, and highway roadside landscaping.

The job obligations differ greatly from their levels and positions. For an entry-level job or trainee, the duties would just be gaining knowledge about how the work is actually done, and undertaking various design projects. The next level is the intermediate level, wherein the designer carries out a wide range of designing assignments, which also include on-the-job training. The following level is that of a professionally well-trained designer, who is responsible for carrying out all related functions and operations in a full-fledged capacity and work environmen t. He also has to be well prepared for taking his own decisions, and making plans and strategies which certainly have a substantial effect on the ongoing project. The last level is the advanced level, wherein an employee becomes a professional in the landscape designing field, and is highly proficient in his tasks. He may also be assigned the responsibility of managing and supervising the work performed by junior designers, and guiding them in their tasks.

Job Description

A typical landscape designer is responsible for creating a rough Sprinkler System design, working on drawings, concentrating on specs and significant factors, and determining the overall expenses involved in a project. They contribute widely in the development of state parks, recreational sites, and design of highway roadsides. Their obligations also include drafting a long-term outline of a project, and creating an elaborated strategy with the help of certain specifications in building sites which are well matched with the landscape.

They may conduct an on-field investigation to guide the architect and builder in making an outline of the construction that Sprinkler Installation wouldn't affect the environmental design. They utilize their creative skills to blend the construction with the beauty of nature for developing a suitable, pleasant, and esthetically delighting piece of area. These areas may be customized lawns, parks, walks, main roads, etc. Landscape designers carry out detailed construction site examinations http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/ which include analysis of soil, grown plants and trees, natural and landscape lighting, visual conception, and architectural style of the intended project or property.

They have to regularly be in touch with other workers such as co ntractors and construction supervisors for coordinating the work efficiently. They conduct a thorough research on the present condition and status of the site which is to be worked upon, to determine the aftereffects of the construction. If required, they even participate in public and media presentations to discuss the project concept. They have to ensure that the work to be done would not in any way have an adverse effect on the natural resources such as trees and soil.

Employment and Salary

Landscape designers may be employed by government agencies or private builders or constructors to assist in building property, without disturbing the scenic view and environmental factors. The per annum pay scale ranges from $50,000-$80,000, which depends on the facility they work in and the clients they work for. Moreover, their earnings highly count on their level of expertise and years of experience.

There are several other responsibilities which are carried out by thes e experts. To get the best understanding, one needs to work with a designer on the field. These professionals compulsorily need be creative, along with a liking for nature.



http://www.buzzle.com/articles/landscape-designer-job-description.html

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Tuesday 9 May 2017

Landscaping :: Landscape design | ArticleBiz.com

What is Landscaping?

Landscape design is the art of arranging or modifying the features of a landscape, an urban area etc for aesthetic or practical purposes.



Good landscape design can add to the value of a home, dramatically increase your living space, and contribute greatly to an improved home lifestyle.

Landscaping has been divided into three main fields:

o Lawn care companies

o Landscape maintenance firms

o Landscape design firms

Lawn care companies specialize in mowing, raking, edging, seeding and otherwise caring for the grassy areas.

Landscape maintenance firms are primarily concerned with periodic maintenance of shrubs and flowerbeds.

Statues

Landscape design firms that handle landscape construction and planting under the direction of a landscape designer or architect. Thi s last group deals with everything from patios to fountains to rock gardens.



A landscape designer or architect knows how to work with the landscape to create larger spaces, shade parts of the house, block wind, and use different shapes, textures, colors, and locations of certain plants to create a more soothing environment.

A good landscape designer can help you integrate all kinds of practical and aesthetic considerations into an overall plan that achieves the effects that are most important to you. Whether you want to attract birds, impress the neighbors, or create fanciful outdoor recreation areas for grandchildren, landscape designers can help you pull it together so that it really works.

Landscaping Process:

Landscaping Process has mainly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKWCB_3nMJg 3 steps:

Planning: Proper planning is essential for any landscaping project just as for any other home improvement project.

Design: Creating a proper design is the most important part of tackling a landscape project.

Implementation: The real implementation of landscaping will be done according to planning and designing.

Landscaping Design:

In Landscape designing, First basic elements that underlie the discipline of landscape design. These fundamental elements will then serve as building blocks for learning and implementing the more advanced principles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =XKWCB_3nMJg for designing a garden in the backyard.

The basic elements of landscape design are:



o Color, as defined by color theory

o Form Line

o Scale.

o Texture

Landscaping Features:

There are many features you can include in your landscaping besides plants.

? Arbors

? Berms

? Lighting

? Flagstones

? Overhead Structures

? Brick or concrete Patios

? Stone Walls

? Retaining Walls

? Steps

? Walkways/Paths

? Char acter Boulders

? Fountains

? Sprinkler System

? Waterfalls, Fish pond and Water features

Advantages of Landscaping:

There are several marked advantages of outsourcing:

? To increase labor productivity

? To help people recover faster

? for air purification

? for energy savings

? to increase property value

? Landscaping can provide privacy and home security

For more information visit: http://blackstonelandscapingdesign.com/



http://www.articlebiz.com/article/540119-1-landscape-design/
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