Why Just Landscape When You Can Rainscape?
It has been pouring here, off and on, for the last week. We seem to have a river running down the middle of the street and matching tributaries by each curb. I’m sure that the sewer system is struggling to keep up with the onslaught. Having seen the applicator trucks throughout the neighborhood the last …
Digging into Dirt: Part 4, Nurturing the Soil
In 1937, after witnessing the havoc and economic desperation that the Dust Bowl had wreaked on our nation, Franklin D Roosevelt sent a letter to all of the governors of the United States, asking them to oversee the adoption of legislation that would create soil conservation districts. In his letter, Roosevelt wrote, “The nation that …
Landscape Architect or Designer -- Which Do I Need?
Once the end of February is on the horizon, I feel like spring is tantalizingly within reach. It is also my signal to take my wintertime garden dreams and turn them into realistic plans that I can actually achieve. Through the years however, I have learned that I usually need help in designing and installing …
Turning Dreams to Reality through the Design Process: Concept to Completion
In my last blog, I mentioned that one of my favorite winter activities is thinking about the upcoming spring. More specifically it is dreaming about all the amazing things I will do to completely change the look of my yard. I have visions of creating a landscaping masterpiece that contains every element I have ever …
Sustainable Landscapes -- A Sense of Place and A Sense of Peace
Growing up in the middle of a large Midwestern city, my connection with nature was little more than a few minutes in our highly manicured yard, an occasional visit to a city park or a stroll through our botanical garden for the Christmas display. My family simply did not see the need to spend much time …
The Case for Sustainable Landscaping
At a recent presentation to a group of homes association property managers, my colleagues were asked why they were suggesting that changes be made in the landscapes resulting in sustainable landscaping for their properties. The potential clients questioned their logic, seeing the suggested changes as a path to planned obsolescence for Embassy; it seemed like …
Goals for Gardeners
The first week of January always brings out an almost obsessive need to clean and organize my surroundings in preparation for the new year ahead. I usually attack the closets first and then move into the basement and garage storage in a frenzied attempt to achieve organizational nirvana. It drives my poor husband crazy because …
A Dry Fall Threatens the Landscape
Kansas City and the surrounding areas are currently experiencing what the state climatologist is calling “abnormally dry conditions.” Entering into the month of December, the area has consistently seen warmer than usual temperatures combined with rainfall amounts averaging 4.5 inches below normal. These near-drought conditions can cause stress to turf, trees and broadleaf evergreens. In …
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