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October 24, 2006
The Green Wall of Mongolia
There was a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) today about efforts in Mongolia to fight sand storms in the Gobi Desert that are progressively becoming worse (expanding goat herds and global warming being two main culprits). The storms frequently blanket Beijing with sand and dust, with material and haze ending up as far afield as Utah.
The solution, a $150 million dollar project to plant Alders, Junipers and other hardy plants (temperatures range in the Gobi from -40 degrees F to 110) in a huge windbreak across the country to help control the storms and dust. Experts are skeptical whether the endeavor will be successful, but Mongolians are hopeful the vegetation project will make a difference in controlling the storms.
Like any vegetation project, the difficulty lies in getting the trees and shrubs to establish and be maintained over the long term. In a couple of decades we may be referring to a second Asian wonder, the "Green Wall of Mongolia."
Image from Wikipedia
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2006
Mailbag- Railroad vs. Landscape Ties
We received an email from Griffin, who writes with a question on the difference between railroad and landscape Ties:
In many projects it seems you use 'landscape ties'. Are these the same as railroad ties or are they the pressure treated version of railroad ties? The reason I ask is that I don't like the look or pressure treated wood but am concerned about leaking railroad ties.
A: Landscape ties are nothing more than pressure treated Douglas Fir, typically 6x8. There are a few of different methods for pressure treating- with either a greenish, reddish, or blackish tint (without getting into the different types of chemical treatments used- check with your local lumber yard for the type of pressure treatment that is best for a particular application). Railroad ties, strictly speaking are black in color and coated with Creosote and a number of other chemicals that you really wouldn't want to use in a residential setting. I hope this explains the difference and our nomenclature.
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2006
Revisited Project- San Rafael
Here are a couple of photographs from a project in San Rafael that was installed 4 years ago. The project included a front entrance bluestone walkway, plantings, urn fountain and entrance gate in the front yard. The interior yard featured a bluestone entryway, lawn, wood retaining wall and railing, and plantings.
Entrance Gate, planted with Bougainvillea
Entry Bluestone Walkway and Fountain
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2006
Current Project- Novato Intimate Garden
This is a project for a new home in Novato. As is frequently the case, the residence is on a hillside and the space in the back yard is limited. The design for this project sought to create a usable back patio space, leaving room for an Asian themed border planting.
Custom Stone Fountain
Curvilinear colored concrete patio
Creeping Fig vines to help soften the existing retaining wall and Asian themed plantings with Japanese Forest Grass, Japanese Maple, and variegated Liriope as featured plantings
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2006
The Mundane Is Important
Working in conjunction with a general contractor on an aspect of a construction project produced the following revision to a concrete paving pattern. The revision was different than an earlier conceptual scheme for the walkway in some small alignment details. While the builder commented that the adjustments could be made in the field, my experience has always been that clarity and specificity on paper save headaches later on.
To quote the architect Le Corbusier- God is in the details.
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2006
Low Voltage Lighting Systems and Energy Requirements
The State of California put into effect new energy regulations, Title 24, that regulate energy usage of light fixtures installed in commercial and residential settings. One point of confusion is the application of the new law, which went into effect last October, on low voltage landscape lighting systems.
Exterior lights mounted on buildings have a variety of new restrictions regarding fixture energy efficiency, photocells, and motion detection equipment. Fortunately, these new restrictions don't apply to landscape lighting systems. To quote the California Title 24 Residential Compliance Manual,
"Example 6-15
Question
My House has a row of small incandescent bollards along the walk way to the front door. Do these have to be high efficacy?
Answer
No. The high efficacy requirement only applies to lighting mounted to the building.
Example 6-16
Question
I would like to install low-voltage landscape lighting in my yard. Are these required to be on a motion sensor and photocontrol?
Answer
No. Even though low-voltage lighting does not qualify as high efficacy lighting, lighting not attached to a building, like landscape lighting, is exempt from this requirement."
These exemptions make sense, because landscape lighting is in a completely different class of application and energy use than other residential and commercial lighting.
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 07:18 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2006
Fall Is In The Air
There definitely is a feeling of fall in the air here in Northern California. People often lament a lack of seasons here in California, but they are still here, if a bit more subtle. The days are growing shorter, our Indian summer October weather is here today, and of course the trees are turning. Striking specimens this time of year are Chinese Pistache and Liquid Ambar; two trees that dependably color this time of year.
It is always amusing when planting people's yards how they are drawn to plants in season. In the fall people want to plant Crape Myrtles and Japanese Maples, in the spring its Flowering Cherry and other blooming fruit trees. Most trees that have this seasonal interest do go deciduous and drop their leaves- thus emerging or departing all the more spectacularly.
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2006
From the Drawing Board- San Rafael Project
Here is a conceptual layout for a project in San Rafael. The Eichler home is being reworking in the front and rear yards to give an updated modern garden that functions as an extension of the residence.
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2006
Remembering the Rain
With a feeling of fall in the air and showers descending on the North Bay this morning, we are jolted back to the reality of working in the rainy half of the year. All things considered, California's Mediterranean climate affords an amazing opportunity to work year round. This is without threats of snow or freezing temperatures endured by most of the rest of the country. Still, working in the summer has the benefit of not staring at 10 day forecasts or satellite and doppler radar each morning.
Working in wet weather will typically slow the pace of landscape projects, but most items can be continued on in the rain; with notable exceptions being large excavation in heavy rain and finished concrete. The other benefit of the onset of fall is being able to start to turn down sprinkler systems from the summer watering schedule.
For More:
"Dealing with Rain in Landscape Projects"
Weather.com - 10 Day Forecast (San Rafael), Western Satellite/Doppler
Posted by Michael O'Connell at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)