Rolland Asley

Ok...well...its been a while since Ive had time to blog. Ive had several projects on the go which have been taking up a lot of my time.

But Im happy to say that the one that has been giving me the most sleepless nights lately, and the endeavour Im most proud of, is the arrival of my daughter Emily Ann...

Consider the new bathroom designs out there. Many make the standard bathroom someplace to look forward to when getting up in the morning. In fact, todays bathroom is going to offer more than just a trip to the restroom. Bathroom designs are impressive and a great way to update the look of your home. They can be a great way to transport yourself into someplace much more relaxing. Consider the new bathroom designs out there.

The Updated Sink

A good place to start in bathroom designs is that of the sink. Your bathroom sink is likely to be a pedestal style sink if you are like the many others out there. These offer a beautiful, long pedestal instead of a bulky storage type of vanity. These are great in that they hide the pipes that you may have. The biggest drawback to them is that they do not allow for any storage. Yet, for those looking for a great looking bathroom design, this is sure to be one element found there.

What About The Tub?

New bathroom designs are available that focus on the bathtub as well. While it used to be common to find a rectangular tub, today you will find something different including unique shapes and a variety of sizes. This makes it more comfortable to relax after a long day. Some people are going back to taking baths simply because of the elegance and beautiful that a good bathtub can provide.

Perhaps you are looking for a different solution and want to focus on a shower stall. Updated bathroom designs offer many space saving features in these showers. You will be able to enjoy all of the traditions that you like and still have quite a bit of style and elegance in the range of options that you have.

What About The Floor?

Even the floors in the bathroom designs should be considered. Materials range widely depending on the style of bathroom that you are interested in. This includes materials like stone and ceramic. You may want to go for an added amenity such as heated floors for the bathroom. While this may not seem like a big deal, on a cool winter night, it may be just what you are looking for.

Bathroom designs of today are focusing around providing unique experiences in this room of the home. You will find much more customization in your tubs and showers as well as the sinks and floors. In fact, many pieces in this bathroom will look as amazing as art work!

Adam Peters contributes editing long articles on decorating for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com - A focused website that offers the best articles on decorating your home and home interiors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Peters

While researching how best to make lush a border including some Hydrangea with an existing Tazmanian Tree Fern Dicksonia antartica, I happened upon a blog posting on the Umpherston Sinkhole Garden.  Its inherent interest lies in its below-ground-level orientation.  I recently photographed a below ground level garden at CornerStone Gardens which is topographically similar to the sinkhole garden.

Inspired by the Umpherston Sinkhole Garden, another lush residential garden border including Dicksonia, Hydrangea, Gunnera, etc. and several specimen shrubs and trees that I found at Singing Tree Gardens, a local nursery in McKinleyville, California with plantings that they sell installed in their own botanical garden; I am consumed with the idea of merging these plantings and gardens to create my own uniquely inspired border.  The moment when all of the parts have been found and seem to belong with one another, I am ready to design my garden border and motivated to take my ideas further and apply them to other potential/hypothetical projects, for instance, an old quarry site, which offers the same comforting below-ground-level vibe as the Umpherston Sinkhole Garden, a seemingly perfect place for a unique and stimulating garden experience.

Dalea

Dalea bicolor
A medium size deciduous shrub reaching a maximum size of 8 x 6 feet.
The foliage is silvery and the deep blue flowers are borne during autumn.
It is hardy to 10 F but will also survive in zone 7 as a perennial ( regrowth is rapid from hard winter pruning or freeze-back ). It is extremely tolerant of heat and drought.

Delea candida
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 2 feet.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

Dalea capitata
A fast growing groundcover shrub reaching up to 2 x 6 feet, that is evergreen in mild climates. The foliage is bright green and the flowers are yellow.
It is a perennial in zones where severe frost occur, hardy as far north as zone 7.

Dalea frutescens ( Black Dalea )
A fast growing, mounding, small evergreen ( deciduous in cooler climates ) shrub reaching up to 4 x 6 feet. Some records include: 2 years - 3 x 4 feet.
The foliage is lacy and silvery.
The intense purple flowers are borne spring until fall ( mostly late summer into fall in cooler climates ).
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( tolerating as low as 0 F ) and may even grow as a perennial north into zone 5. It requires full sun on well drained soil and is very drought tolerant. Fertilizer is not recommended. Older overgrown plants can be cut back hard during early spring to rejuvenate.

Dalea greggii ( Trailing Indigo Bush )
A low, spreading, groundcover shrub, reaching up to 1.5 x 8 ( rarely over 1 x 5 ) feet. The stems root anywhere they touch the ground making this a great plant for erosion control and stabilizing banks
The pinnate compound leaves are composed of tiny, silvery leaflets.
The rosy-purple flowers are borne late spring into summer, though often repeating sporadically after.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 on just about any well drained soil, it prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It is tolerant of extreme heat including reflected heat of parking lot islands.

Dalea lutea
An evergreen shrub reaching a maximum size of 6 x 6 feet.
The foliage is deep green and the yellow flowers are borne during late autumn.
Hardy north to zone 9. Cut back by 2/3 in March.

Dalea pulchra
Some records include: 3 years - 5 feet

Dalea purpurea ( Purple Prairie Clover )
Also called Petalostemon purpureum. A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet, that is native to central North America ( Saskatchewan to Indiana; south to New Mexico to Texas ).
The fine textured foliage is rich mid-green.
The profuse, rose-purple flowers are borne over a long period during the summer.
The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun. Very drought tolerant and deep rooted ( up to 16 feet deep! ). Resistant to rabbits but not deer.

Dalea spinosus
Also called Psorothamnus spinosus. It is a small deciduous tree reaching up to 25 feet, that is native to river valleys in southern California, southern Nevada, western and southern Arizona. Some records include: 2 years - 10 feet; 3 years - 15 feet; 4 years - 17 feet; 7 years - 19 feet; 11 years - 20 feet.
Thrives in both Tucson & Yuma. No freeze damage at 15 F at Tucson.
The masses of gray, spiny stems sparsely bear simple leaves, up to an inch in length.
The flowers are purplish-gray.
Hardy zones 9 to 11

Dalea versicolor Mountain Delight
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet.
Hardy zones 8a to 9, tolerates as high as 110 F.

Mid-Century Modern Landscape Design

www.landscapingnetwork.com A mid-century modern home designed by architect Joseph Eichler features a landscape design that takes advantage of the ...

Many Front Yard Landscaping Ideas are simply boring. While you dont want to do anything that would get you kicked out of the homeowners association, you can still have an interesting and unique design. Here are a few suggestions.

Rocks, Stones and Boulders

You may have seen a large boulder in a neighbors yard and just assumed it was a part of the landscape before the home was built. That could be true. But, if the boulder seems to fit just right, it was probably placed there by a landscape design team.

You can buy decorative boulders, rip-rap rock, granite, river rocks and other stones from a number of different suppliers. Most companies offer free delivery for large heavy orders.
There are several advantages to decorating with rock. First, the stones provide protection against erosion, but require no watering. Second, they help prevent weeds from growing. Third, they look interesting.

Your driveway and front walk can be composed of interlocking paving stones, rather than asphalt or concrete. If you look at some of the online pictures of completed projects, you have to agree that interlocking pavers are much more attractive than conventional materials.

Using pavers is one of the Front Yard Landscaping Ideas that will save you money in the future. Ice expansion will not cause them to crack. They will even give during an earthquake instead of crumbling.

Interlocking or mortar-less stone can be used to create flower beds, fountains, retaining walls and other decorative items. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the size of your lot.

Plant Herbs, Shrubs, Flowers & Trees

While some people might not agree, I dont think it is possible to have too many flowering plants. Herbs are not only beautiful. They are fragrant and can be used in the kitchen.

For some really unique Front Yard Landscaping Ideas, you might talk to people that have gotten rid of all or most of their grass. While the "barefoot lawn" is still the norm, there are alternatives. Some of them are quite beautiful.

The homeowners that have decided to go grassless make use of ornamental grasses, flowering ground cover and evergreen shrubs like boxwoods.

Boxwoods are a hardy drought-resistant plant that can be used to create a hedge and block traffic noise. The year-round greenery is pleasing to the eye and can be covered with shrub lights at Christmastime.

You can find hundreds of Front Yard Landscaping Ideas online. Just be sure to check with your homeowners association before you do anything too drastic.

John Hamilton is one of the home improvement journalists at HomeImprovement411.ca. He has worked in many aspects of the home improvement industry for over 20 years. For more great useful home improvement articles please visit: http://www.homeimprovement411.ca.

When you are considering a

I started this project back in the fall of 2010... the project is still under way as I have not had much time this Spring to complete. I have been so busy with design work for my clients.... but it is getting there... slowly....

My neighbour made me promise I would build a nice fence.... I dont think she was expecting it to be as nice as this one...

As you study the detail you may notice that there are not very many nails showing in terms of what holds the fence together...some carefully thought out trim details and board placement has allowed for that.

A fence like this is not something put up in a day... there is a lot of cutting and sanding involved. Every second fence board was ripped into a half piece on the table saw, sanded and then stained...in fact, every piece of lumber put on this fence was pre-stained before assembly and is now awaiting a second coat of stain to seal it up nicely.

I have just applied the second coat to the screens the other day and I planted some Honeysuckle vines to trail up and fill in along the trellis screens. The screen details in the fence give an architectural element that allows great interest to the eye as you walk down the pathways to the backyard or the side door entry.

My next project phase is to build a covered structure in the backyard...that is currently in the planned stage and materials pricing stage... Once the structures are built, the patio and pathways will be completed.

17.1 Greenway Planning and Design
Contents list

During the nineteenth century, the leading idea in open space planning was to make patches of green, called parks. In the twentieth century, it was to make
strips of green, called parkways or greenways. The argument for harlequin space, in the
preceding essay,
applies equally to greenways (Figure 17.1). Let us begin with the history of the idea.

Greenways derive from parkways, which derive from boulevards. It was
Olmsted
who began the transformation. He admired the avenues of Paris and recommended the creation of parkways in New York and Boston, as links between parks. Verily,
it was a great idea. The original parkways contained carriage drives, for soothing recreational travel. When heavy traffic made these routes unpleasant,
planners began making car-free parkways. By the 1980s they had come to be known as greenways. The name was changed to forge links with the environmental
movement and to include all sorts of natural space that should not be managed with gang-mowers and herbicides (Little, 1990).

BrownwayGreenways do not have to be
green
in mood. They can be
red,
blue,
yellow,
orange,
purple,
brown,
grey,
white,
a harmony or a
harlequin
combination.

Shopping streets, for example, can be
greenways
if they are environmentally pleasant - but their mood is unlikely to be green. If they are used only to get from shop to shop, the space will be yellow.
If it also attracts fire eaters, jugglers, limbo dancers, kebab makers, chestnut roasters and evangelists, it will be red. In either case, it should be
given the suffix "way only if it provides a safe pedestrian route from one place to another place. Many roads and streets now belong to the internal combustion
engine. The term "way should be salvaged and restored to its former glory, signifying a footpath for bipeds and quadrupeds. Having a special term would
assist pedestrian planners. In medieval towns, the shopping street was the central street. When vehicular traffic made these spaces unattractive, shoppers
were pushed into all sorts of inconvenient backwaters.

Blueways,
obviously, should run beside rivers and canals. Brownways should be deep cracks, either between buildings or set into the ground, with earth, pebbles, timber
and exposed rocks. Orangeways should be like esplanades -- places where one goes to be gay and to look at other people. Purpleways are for explorers, like
historic trails but with an air of grandeur. Whiteways should command expansive views, on high ground, bridges, viaducts, citywalls or skyways.

London, which will be used as an exemplar in the first half of this essay, had a great series of open space plans from 1925 to 1976 - but they were entirely
for parkspace. Only the 1943--44 plan, by far the greatest, was inspired by the greenway concept. Since 1986, London has lacked an overall planning authority,
but this has not brought London open space planning to a halt. It has simply returned landscape planning to its non-statutory origins. To me, the history
of open space planning for London shows that statutory plans are unimportant, while ideas and advisory plans are vital.

Multi-coloured greenways


17.2 London Greenways 1929
Contents list

This plan was prepared by a committee representing the municipal authorities (the "London Boroughs) in and around London, known as the Greater London Regional
Planning Committee. It contained a Memorandum on "Open spaces by Raymond Unwin. He was chief technical advisor for the 1929 plan, author of a famous book
on Town Planning in Practice (1909) and a designer of
Hampstead Garden Suburb.
The 1929 plan introduced the concepts of a green belt and of open space standards. It distinguished between "open land, which meant undeveloped land, and
"open space, which meant recreational land, though the terms were confused. The basic planning idea was quantitative: each 1000 people should be allocated
a certain quantity of parkspace. The plan recommended that "7 acres per thousand of the population should be reserved for playing fields, and that there
should be additional open space for "people to walk in, for pleasure and picnic resorts and so forth.

With regard to the distribution of open space, the most celebrated feature of the 1929 plan was the proposal for a "green girdle of non‑playing field open
space in the form of a ring round London (Figure 17.2). Unwin wanted playing field land to be concentrated in central areas. Britains government hoped
that sport would diminish juvenile crime and improve the physical health of future conscripts to the armed forces. In 1938, a Green Belt Act was passed
and land acquisition began. Large tracts were purchased but not joined together. Nor, in many cases, were they even made available for recreation. Most
of the land became municipally owned agricultural land: not greenway, not parkland, not a good idea.

Unwins theoretical diagram for circular rings of greenspace in and around London (1929)

17.2 Unwins 1929 Green Girdle plan for London was inspired by Olmsteds Emerald Necklace

17.3 London Greenways 1943
Contents list

This plan was published in two documents (London County Council, 1943, 1944), both guided by
Patrick Abercrombie,
an architect, town planner and landscape architect. His plans were distinguished by their wide geographical scope (a 50 km radius) and by the authors broad
professional interests. They carried forward the 1929 ideas and introduced a visionary proposal for creating an immense network of greenways to interlink
open spaces in central areas with those on the periphery of Greater London (Figure 173). His objective was to make it possible for:

...the town dweller to get from doorstep to open country through an easy flow of open space from garden to park, from park to parkway, from parkway to green
wedge and from green wedge to Green Belt... A great advantage of the linking parkway is that it extends the radius of influence of the larger open spaces
and brings the latter into more intimate relationship with the surrounding areas.

Abercrombies conception was described as a park system, not a greenway system. It was a heroic idea, which I believe will continue to influence open space
planning for as long as London survives as a recognizable entity. The City of London and the 32 London Borough Municipal Authorities rarely mention Abercrombie
in their Unitary Development Plans - but the deep logic of his plan compels them to proceed with the task of providing green links between public open
spaces. London has new greenways every year.

The South Bank was an area of semi-derelict wharfage in 1943 and Abercrombie proposed the wide esplanade which has been created.

Long sections of Thames riverside walk have been planned without tree planting (west of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the river)

The City section of the Thames walkway is often ingenious, interesting - and privately owned.

Abercrombie gave special attention to the Thames riverside, declaring that The River Thames is the largest single open space in the County (p.46) and
every riverside community should have access to the river (p47) and devoting a full chapter of his report to the topic. Chapter 11 dealt with The River
Front and the South Bank Area.
It states that the Thames:
presents unequalled opportunities for public enjoyment, civic splendour and residential amenity
in East London, at few points only is the river front accessible to the public
the proportion of riverbank used for non-industrial purposes should be increased from 27% to 51%, and the proportion used for public open space should rise
from 9% to 30%
the long-germ goal (p.128) is that on the east, a green strip would suplant the narrow stretches of warehouses which occupy sites of uneconomic depth
so that the new open space would link up the existing parks and provide a continuous treed riverside walk from the Tower to King Edward VII Park.

These proposals are shown are the excerpt from Abercrombies riverfront plan.

Between 1943 and 2005 the decline in industrial and warehouse-wharf use of the riverside was far greater than Amercrombie conceived possible. By 2005 it
was closer to 4.9% of the riverfront than the 49% he imagined. However:
most of the riverfront from the Tower to King Edward VII Park remained inaccessible to the public, because the wharfs and warehouses were simply converted
to residential use
the only new section of with a substantial treed riverside walk was on the South Bank
in most places the new riverside walk was narrow and dramatic but unplanted
in many places (eg the Isle of Dogs) the banality of the waterfront landscape design is beyond belief

A public inquiry would help uncover who is responsible for the appalling quality of the landscape design. The possibilities are as follows:
the developers, who own much of the waterfront land, were miserly
the architects were incompetent at landscape design
the planners did not perform their duty in securing the provision of public goods
the elected councilors who cared more about maximising local taxation than about design quality
the Port of London Authority waved a dead hand over the designers imagination

I seriously doubt if there is a first year landscape architecture student in the whole of Europe capable of such banal, ugly and badly detailed work. The
public response has been to leave this magnificent planning achievement (a new riverside walk) almost unused. So what should be done?
apologise
allocate a budget
hold a series of design competitions
introduce new uses to the waterfront (moorings, launch points, pubs, restaurants, wildlife habitats, barbecue facilities, ping-pong-tables, beach steps,
sandy beaches)

17.3 Abercrombies 1944 Open Space Plan for Greater London

17.4 London Greenways 1951
Contents list

The 1951 Administrative County of London Development Plan covered a much smaller geographical area (a 12 km radius) and a narrower range of interests (London
County Council, 1951). It was a statutory plan. Individual contributors were not identified, but it is known to have been the work of park managers assisted
by planners from the architecture and surveying professions. Their aim was simply to increase the physical area of vegetated parkspace as much as possible.
This was an unimaginatively quantitative approach. Increasing the amount of vegetated open space in London has tended to suburbanize the city. Had the
plan been fully implemented, it would have homogenized the citys urban grain and its open space structure. In 1960, the planners boasted of their achievements
in the preceding decade, measured by the extent to which London had moved towards the standard of 4 acres of open space per 1000 population. They had added
521 acres of new open space (London County Council, 1960) but had neglected Abercrombies plan for a London-wide greenway system. Mostly, the 1951 led
to the making of large vacant expanses of grass.

The 1951 plan for London forgot about Abercrombies plan for linked open space. It dealt only with the quantity of green parkspace.

17.5 London Greenways 1976
Contents list

The 1976 Greater London Development Plan covered an intermediate area, a 25 km radius (Greater London Council,
1976). No individuals were named, but it is known to have been the work of planners from a social science background. Unlike its predecessors, the 1976
London open space plan was based on extensive social science research, initiated by the London County Council and completed by the Greater London Council.
The research was described as "the most interesting and useful of any recent recreation study (Burton and Veal, 1971). But it neglected the greenway idea
and led to the bizarre conclusion that parks should be arranged in a hierarchy of different sizes: metropolitan parks, district parks, and local parks.
The principle was illustrated with an attractive hexagon-diagram, reminding one of the cells in a behive, but one cannot see that this has had any discernible
effect on Londons open spaces. The greatest research investigation ever made into London open space was wasted.

See note on
Park User Surveys

Post-1976

The most significant change in London open space planning since 1976 has been the development of a special type of greenway, described as a green chain.
The original Green Chain was coordinated by the Greater London Council (Green Chain Joint Committee, 1977). The aim was to safeguard a number of open spaces
and to develop their recreation potential. The open spaces were broadly in the form of a chain running through South East London (Figure 4). A green chain
walk was planned as a link between the spaces, to join them as green beads on a grey necklace.

The South London Greenchain is a signposted footpath connecting a number of public greenspaces.

[FIG. 17.4 ]

17.6 London Greenways 1991
Contents list

A Green Strategy Report (Turner, 1991) recommended a series of overlapping networks, each with its own qualities (Figure 5). The first network, for pedestrians,
was proposed as a series of discrete projects, growing from destinations, including railway stations, shopping centres and schools, or following desire
lines, or following lines of opportunity, including parks, river valleys and canals. The pedestrian network is being developed by a non-statutory group,
known as the London Walking Forum. The walks are single-purpose recreational routes (Figure 17.6).

The second network is for cyclists. This is being promoted by another non-statutory organization, the London Cycling Campaign. The 1000 mile Strategic Cycleway
Network will link local centres in London, as a commuter network. Like the pedestrian network, this is a shortsighted policy. Both networks should include
routes for commuting, and both should include routes for recreation. Commuter cyclists want short safe routes. Recreational cyclists want long beautiful
routes. Occasionally, they will coincide.

The third network is of bioological corridors. When wildlife corridors were first proposed, planners hoped, romantically, that they would become wildlife
conduits, enabling the "concrete jungle to be re‑colonized by native fauna and flora. Scientific research is not supporting this attractive hypothesis
( Dawson, 1994). Very few species have been shown to use corridors as their only or major means of dispersal. There are, however, other arguments for ecological
corridors. First, they are a form of habitat that has an extensive zone of visual influence, because they have more "edge than non‑linear habitats. Second,
they can be spread throughout the city, creating opportunities for the full range of soil, water and climatic conditions to be reflected in habitat types.
Third, they have a spiritual value. Too often one has the feeling that our civilization is obliterating the natural environment. The network of ecological
corridors is promoted by a third non-statutory body, the London Ecology Unit (Greater London Council, 1986).

The fourth network is of river corridors: (1) existing rivers and streams (2) old rivers and streams, released from their underground conduits (3) new swales
and drainage routes, formed as part of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS).

The maps below relate to the pedestrian network. They show (above) the existing long distance footpaths existing in 1991 and (below) proposed new routes
to create a network of radial and circular walks.

17.7 London Greenways after 2000
Contents list

Since 2000
the Greater London Authority, encouraged by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has encouraged the London Boroughs to develop open space strategies
- with the focus more on public parks than on the interconnecting greenways, be they paved or vegetated.

The 2004
London Plan: Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London
includes what is called (map 3D.3) London’s strategic open space network. It is a paltry re-hash of the 1976 GLC Open space strategy, with the same irrelevant
proposal for a hierarchy of open spaces of different sizes. A much more interesting section of the 2004 plan comes in Section 4c: the Blue Ribbon Network
for London. Though a significant innovation in London open space planning, it is a remarkably dry proposal, with timid generalities cautiously expressed.
One keeps reading that The Mayor will, and Boroughs should..." but one it would be difficult to find a person who could disagree with the succeeding pronouncements
- unless, of course, it affects their own back yard.

For example: "Policy 4C.17 Increasing access alongside and to the Blue Ribbon Network. The Mayor will, and boroughs should, protect and improve existing
access points to, alongside and over the Blue Ribbon Network. New sections to
extend existing or create new walking and cycling routes alongside the
Blue Ribbon Network as well as new access points should be provided as
part of development proposals for Opportunity Areas and Areas for
Intensification, especially in areas of deficiency."

The Blue Ribbon Policy is nonetheless welcome. Londons previous open space plans have not dealt with its river system, presumably because they provided
insufficient opportunities to exercise the gang mowing machinery so loved by parks managers.

Londons Lost Rivers

The Blue Ribbon Policy is as follows: "4.146 Attempts to re-establish lost rivers are likely to be extremely expensive. Therefore the Mayor’s approach is
to welcome in principle any such proposal but not to require the reinstatement in the same way that culverted parts of the Blue Ribbon Network should be
opened. There may be merit in projects that mark the historic route of such rivers at street level as an educational or tourist facility." Short-term caution
is in order, but strategic planners should look to the future. See our
Landscape Planning Policy for River Reclamation.

17.8 Greenways
Contents list

If the "green in "greenway is read as "environmentally pleasant then "greenway is a valuable portmanteau term. But "greenways come in many colours
and varieties, which must be fitted into the environment as carefully as the parts of a mechanical clock. Each must be adapted to its location and to its
role within the urban structure. This demands a qualitative approach to open space planning. Building upon the methodology of pattern-assisted design,
greenway types can be explained as archetypal patterns. In the following pattern descriptions, there are upward and downward links to Alexanders Pattern
Language, with short statements of "problem and solution used in place of full pattern descriptions. This has been done in an attempt to apply Alexanders
Pattern Language approach to greenway and open space planning.

Spirit Quay. This apparently excellent greenway is near Tower Bridge. It is hardly used because it does not follow a route which people want to travel along
(from Hermitage Basin to Shadwell Basin),

17.9 Parkways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

City country fingers (3), Green streets (51), Network of paths and cars (52).

Problem

Cities have become "concrete jungles. They lack large spaces, green spaces, and routes where people can take exercise in natural surroundings. Too few
cities offer the blend of "country and "town benefits that Ebenezer Howard praised in Garden Cities of Tomorrow. In most large cities, the public parks
were planned at a time when most people earned their living by physical labour and did not own private gardens.

Solution

In older urban areas, convert lightly trafficked streets, railway lines and other linear features into linear parks, so that they interlink smaller and
older parks (Figure 7). A parkway system will provide for the active recreational pursuits that the modern sedentary worker requires. When new urban areas
are being planned, establish a network of parkways before setting aside land for roads or buildings. It is difficult to retrofit urban areas with parkways.
Ensure that parkways are accessible and that, wherever possible, they link pedestrian origins to destinations (e.g. homes to stations, shops and schools).

[FIG 17.7 ]

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Accessible green (60), Small public squares (61).

17.10 Blueways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Sacred sites (24), Access to water (25), Quiet backs (59), Pools and streams (64).

Problem

After a century of single-purpose management by river engineers, most rivers in most cities in most industrial countries are channelized sewers, encased
in concrete. They deny citizens the contact with water that is essential to their spiritual well-being. A host of surveys has proved that access to water
is the chief demand in outdoor recreation.

Solution

Urban rivers should be converted into blueways, by enabling access to the banks of rivers (Figure 8). When citizens can see the wanton devastation that
has been vested upon their rivers, they will demand reclamation programmes. Some waterside routes will be for commuting and some for leisure. Other areas
of river, and riverside land, should be closed off to humans, so that wildlife habitats can develop. Sizeable areas of riverside land should be used be
for storm detention and infiltration purposes.

[FIG 17.8 ]

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Still water (71), Holy ground (66).

17.11 Paveways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Promenade (31), Shopping street (32), Nightlife (33), University as a market place (43).

Problem

The raised sidewalk was a great nineteenth century invention. It protected walkers from mud, horse manure and vehicles. When vehicle movements rise above
5000 per day, sidewalks become too noxious and noisy.

Solution

Well-designed paveways, with appropriate planting and street furniture, should be formed along main pedestrian desire lines (Figure 9). Cafés, newspaper
shops, transport vendors and other businesses should be offered sites along the routes, to raise the level of pedestrian usage, personal safety and the
buzz of activity that attracts people to city life.

[FIG 17.9 ]

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Dancing in the street (63), Public outdoor room (69), BUs Stop (92).

17.12 Glazeways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Building complex (95), Circulation realms (98), Pedestrian streets (100).

Problem

Most cities are building glazed indoor malls, for a variety of purposes. Too often they are not interconnected, so that pedestrians are denied the benefit
of a continuous covered walkway. The exceptions are in very hot and very cold climates, where necessity has been the mother of invention. In temperate
cities, shoppers and commuters are frequently too hot or too cold, because they wear outdoor clothing indoors.

Solution

City planners should ensure that glazeways will be interconnected in the medium to long term. They should also be connected to other types of pedestrian
way and, on the urban fringe, to rural greenways ("countryways). In central business districts, there should be a continuous network of glazeways, taking
in office malls, shopping malls, and transport interchanges. Most of the network will be constructed by private development companies, but connecting links
should be built by public authorities.

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Activity pockets (124), Open stairs (158), Window place (180).

17.13 Skyways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

High places (62), Pedestrian street (100).

Problem

Notwithstanding the development of greenways, paveways and blueways, it will become increasingly difficult to provide quiet and sunny space in downtown
areas. Roof gardens are becoming popular but they tend to be at the dead ends of the urban circulation system, even more isolated than the New York Plazas
that William H. Whyte found to be deserted because they are not on circulation routes (Whyte, 1980).

Solution

Developers should provide roof gardens, and they should be linked into a network of skyways (Figure 10). The network could be used by office workers at
lunchtime for jogging, sunbathing, eating and playing games. Open air baths, conservatories, wildlife habitats and caged-in games pitches should be incorporated
into the skyway network.

[FIG 17.10 ]

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Connected buildings (108), Roof garden (118), Arcades (119), Zen view (134).

See
New York as it should be - with vegetated roofs.

17.14 Ecoways - biological corridors
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

City country fingers (3), Agricultural fingers (4).

Problem

Having destroyed most natural habitats in most urban areas, the public has begun to mourn their loss and even to feel guilty about their destruction. There
are visual, spiritual, economic and ecological advantages in having networks of semi-natural habitat interlacing cities.

Solution

Establish networks of ecological space in cities by using urban watercourses, public utility corridors, parklands and private gardens. Some parts of the
network may be accessible to the public, but, as the networks are for plants, animals, air and water, public access should not be a planning objective
for this category of space. Ecoways need not link human origins and destinations. Indeed, as humans tend to have a deleterious effect upon wildlife, it
is desirable to have ecoways that are indirect and, for parts of their length and width, inaccessible to the public.

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Animals (74), Garden growing wild (172).

17.15 Cycleways
Contents list

Upward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Local transport area (11), Network of paths and cars (52).

Problem

Very few Western cities have good cycleway systems, despite the cycles status as the Great Green Machine. A large shift from motorized commuting to cycling
would do more to make cities green, in the environmental sense, than any other single policy. Cycling helps to conserve energy resources, improves physical
fitness, limits noise, limits air pollution, and reduces damage to the ozone layer.

Solution

Spend more of the citys transport budget on cycleways than on roads. As climatic conditions can make cycling less than pleasant, different measures should
be taken in different countries, to give protection, as required, from rain, sun, snow or wind. In temperate climates, the long-term aim should be to create
a network of roofed, sheltered but unwalled cycle paths. When cyclepaths are segregated from roads, they must follow a route that is more direct than the
road. The network can partially overlap other types of greenway. Narrow old roads should be made into cycleways instead of being widened and modernized.

Downward links to Alexanders Pattern Language

Main entrance (110), Arcades (119), Quiet backs (59).

17.16 Greenway diversification
Contents list

"
You can have any colour you like, so long as its green, thought our predecessors, as they used fat green marker pens to decorate town plans with seaweed-like
patterns. This was the "Model G era in greenway planning, which parallels the "Model T period in car production. Planners must now develop expertise
in designing and prescribing exactly the right type of "greenway, contextualized to local circumstances, adapted to natural and human resource availability,
feasible within budget constraints. Greenway promotion and diversification could thus lead to a range of other ways: the parkway, the paveway, the glazeway,
the skyway, the ecoway, the cycleway, the blueway, the redway, the brownway, the orangeway, the purpleway and the whiteway becoming acclaimed features
of the urban environment.

The one and only plant in the Danae genus, with is part of the much larger Lily family. The Alexandrian Laurel is an elegant, attractive evergreen shrub native to western Asia that reaches about 3 feet tall on average but can reach a maximum size of 6.5 x 10 feet on ideal sites. Its stems are upright and bamboo like. It is slow to medium growing with the fastest rate being about 2 feet per year. Though not invasive; it can spread by rhizomes.
The elliptical, glossy, thick, waxy, bright green, evergreen foliage ( or technically phylloclades ) reach up to 4 x 2.5 inches in size. The stems are also green.
The tiny greenish yellow flowers are borne on clusters and are followed by showy, 0.5 inch, orange-red berries that last well into the winter.
The Alexandrian Laurel can be propagated by seed or division.
It takes 5 to 7 years from seed to become a marketable size nursery plant making it rare in the horticultural trade despite being an excellent plant for areas of either moist or dry shade.
Prefers moist, light, well drained fertile soil on partially shaded to shaded sites and is hardy from zones 6 through 9 ( may be turned into a perennial during severe winters in 6 ). It is tolerant of both clay and sand though may grow somewhat slower. It should not be planted in full sun where its foliage will get "bleached".
It is very drought tolerant and does grow in Mediterranean climates where it can become deciduous if not given a deep watering once or twice a month. In the Mediterranean most of its growth occurs during the winter rainy season instead of spring. This plant grows in a similar way to Bamboo with each stem lasting about 3 years and then being replaced with new shoots. Old or dead shoots should be pruned out to maintain a neat and clean appearance.
The Alexandrian Laurel is famous in Greece for its use in crowning winning athletes during the Greek and Roman times.

* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Mar 8 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

RELATED PLANTS

Ruscus aculeatus ( Butchers Broom )
Related and somewhat similar in apppearance. It is a moderate growing, rhizomatous spreading, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 4.5 x 4.5 feet, that is native from western Europe to Iran. Some records include: 8 years - 4.5 feet.
The spine-tipped, phyllode leaves, up to 3.2 x 1.2 inches in size, are bright green.
The yellow male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. If both are present, then the female plants will bear scarlet-red berries. Good good berry production Butchers Broom should be planted in groups of 3 or more of plants not from the same clone.
The stems are green.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun or full shade on well drained soil. Propagation is from seed sown in cold frame upon ripening or division during early spring.

Christmas Berry
Hermaphrodite, not requiring a pollinator to produce berries.

John Redmond
Hermaphrodite, not requiring a pollinator to produce berries.

Wheelers Variety
Low growing, reaching up to 1 x 6 feet. Self fruiting.

Ruscus hypoglossum
A dense, low growing, clumping shrub reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 3 feet in size.
The pointed, oval, phyllode leaves, up to 4 x 1.6 inches, are glossy mid-green. The tips are not spines unlike Ruscus aculeatus.
The glossy scarlet-red berries are borne on female plants only.
Hardy zones 7b to 9 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. It is very tolerant of dry shady sites. It is endangered in the wild but makes a great landscape plant.
Propagation is from seed or division done during spring.

Mitchella repens
A very low, trailing, woody, evergreen groundcover, reaching up to 6 ( averaging 3 ) inches in height, that slowly spreads to a maximum width of up to 20 feet over 30 years, though easily contained. Its average width in about 10 years is only 3.3 feet. Partridge Berry is a native of woodlands in eastern North America ( Ontario; south to Arkansas, Texas to Florida ). Partridge Berry looks especially great along woodland pathways.
The attractive oppositely-arranged, rounded leaves, up to 1.3 x 1 inches, are glossy deep green with white veining.
The tiny, pinkish-white, funnel-shaped flowers, up to 0.5 inches in length, are borne paired during late spring.
They are followed by scarlet-red berries, edible during autumn, persisting through most of the winter.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in partial to full shade on fertile, neutral to acidic, well drained soil. It is important to removed fallen leaves during autumn as they can easily smother this plant. Propagation is from seed and naturally layered stems.

* photo of unknown internet source

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This powder coated aluminum tiki torch comes with a battery operated ignitor and is a manual lit system.

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Gentiana

While I tried to include most Gentians found in horticulture, additional species of potential in cold climates may be found on this external link.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=120&taxon_id=113422

Gentiana acaulis ( Trumpet Gentian )
A short, mat-forming, clumping, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 4 inches x 2 foot ( reports of 6 inches x 3.5 feet ), that is native to the European Alps from Spain to the Carpathians and Balkans.
The elliptic, basal leaves, up to 1 inch in length, form a basal rosette.
The foliage is glossy deep green.
The brilliant, deep blue ( with green spots ), bell-shaped flowers, up to 4 ( rarely over 2 ) inches in length, are borne during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on on moist, deep, acidic, fertile, humus-rich, very well drained soil. It does not enjoy sandy or very light soils.

* excellent photo link found on internet
http://plants.nature4stock.com/?page_id=2664

subsp clusii
Also called Gentian clusii. Similar but smaller, reaching up to 4 x 12 inches, with large, purplish-blue flowers.
Tolerant of limestone soils.

subsp dinarica
Similar except for having broader foliage and abundant flowers that are not spotted.
Tolerant of limestone soils.

Gentiana andrewsii ( Bottle Gentian )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 2 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, that is native to the northeastern United States. It is threatened with extinction in New York State and Maryland.
The lance-shaped leaves, up to 6 inches in length, are luxuriant glossy deep green.
The deep blue flowers, up to 1.6 inches in length, are borne on terminal clusters during late summer to mid autumn lasting a month of more.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile, acidic to neutral soil. Easy to grow.

Gentiana asclepiadea ( Willow Gentian )
An arching, herbaceous perennial, reaching up to 3.3 x 3.3 ( often under 2 in height ) feet, that is native to Eurasia especially central and southern Europe.
The paired, tapered, lance-shaped to ovate leaves, up to 3.2 inches in length, are glossy bright to mid-green.
The deep blue to purplish-blue, narrow bell-shaped flowers, up to 2 ( rarely over 1.3 ) inches in length, are borne from the leaf axils in clusters of 2 or 3, from mid-summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil. It is alkaline soil tolerant.
Propagation is from seed, basal cuttings and division.

Alba
The flowers are white with a bright green throat. It is otherwise identical to the species.

Gentiana clausa ( Closed Gentian )
Also called Bottle Gentian. A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 2 ( rarely over 1 ) feet, that is native from Quebec south through the Appalatians into Tennessee and North Carolina.
The paired, lance-shaped leaves are luxuriant bright green.
The rich blue flowers are borne during late summer to early autumn.
They are never open completely, hence the name Closed Gentian.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in partial shade on fertile, consistently moist, very well drained soil. They prefer cool summer climates, especially enjoying cool summer nights.

* photo taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park


Gentiana cruciata
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 16 inches x 1.5 feet.
The leaves, up to 5 x 2 inches, form basal rosettes.
The deep blue flowers are borne mid summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

Gentiana dahurica
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 16 inches x 2.5 feet.
The leaves are up to 12 inches in length. The foliage is glossy deep green. The stems are leafy.
The purplish-blue, tubular flowers are borne during late summer.
Hardy zones 3b to 7 in full sun to partial shade. It is easy to grow on acidic soils, however it does not enjoy alkaline soil.

Gentiana dinarica
A vigorous perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 2 feet, that is native to Yugoslavia.
The showy, blue flowers are borne during late spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. It loves limestone soils.

Gentiana farrari
A prostrate perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 1 foot, that is native to Tibet.
The leaves are very narrow. The intense, mid-blue ( throated white ) flowers, up to 2.4 inches in length, are borne during late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile, humus-rich, very well drained soil. It is tolerant of alkaline soils.

Gentiana frigida
A low, upright but spreading perennial, reaching height of 6 inches, that is native to the Carpathian Alps in Europe.
The leaves are up to 3 inches in length.
The yellowish ( with blue stripes ), bell-shaped flowers are borne 1 to 3 at the stem tips during late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

Gentiana gracilipes
A rosette-forming, tufted perennial, reaching size of 1 foot x 16 + inches.
The linear leaves, up to 1.2 inches in length, are bright green.
The purplish-blue, bell-shaped flowers are borne atop arching stems, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade on moist, acidic, fertile, humus-rich, very well drained soil. It does not enjoy alkaline soils.

Alba
Pure white flowers, otherwise identical.

Gentiana grombezewskii
An erect but spreading, tufted perennial, reaching a maximum height of 1.5 feet.
The leaves are up to 12 inches in length.
The yellow, tubular flowers are borne on terminal clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

Gentiana lutea ( Yellow Gentian )
A strong growing perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6.6 x 2 feet, that is native to mountainous areas in central and southern Europe.
The thick stems bear broad lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, up to 12 x 4.7 inches in size.
The bright yellow, starry flowers are borne on whorls.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 on full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil. It requires cool summers.
Propagation is from seed, basal cuttings and division.

Gentiana makinoi ( Makinois Gentian )
A perennial, reaching up to 2 feet in height, that is native to Japan.
The bright blue to deep purplish-blue, tubular flowers are borne on a leafy stem during late summer into early autumn.
It requires consistently moist, acidic, well drained soil.

Gentiana paradoxa Blue Herold
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 2 feet. G. paradoxa is native to western Asia from Turkey to the western Caucasus Mountains.
The large, intense mid-blue flowers are borne late summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade on moist soil. It is easy to grow from seed.

Gentiana saxosa
A prostate perennial, reaching up to 8 inches x 1 foot, that is native to New Zealand.
The spatula-shaped leaves, up to 1.3 inches in length, are deep green.
The purple ( with white veins ), bell-shaped flowers are borne during summer.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Gentian saponaria ( Soapwort Gentian )
A perennial, reaching up to 28 inches in height, that is native to the eastern U.S. ( from Illinois to Pennsylvania; south to Louisiana to far northern Florida ).
The blue flowers are borne late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in light shade.

Gentiana scabra
A rarely seen but spectacular perennial for the landscape border.
The trumpet-shaped flowers are borne early to mid autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 7, it is easy to grow in full sun on just about any well drained soil though preferring light and peaty. They are not prone to insect pests or disease.

* photos taken on Aug 30 2012 in Columbia, MD

True Blue
Forms a stifly upright ( rare for Gentians ) clump, reaching up to 2.5 x 2 feet in size.
The lance-shaped leaves are luxuriant glossy mid-green.
The intense deep blue flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne mid summer until autumn frost.

‘Zuikorindo’
Forms a spreading clump, reaching only 6 inches in height, bearing deep pink flowers at the stem tips during early to mid autumn.

Gentiana septemfida ( Crested Gentian )
A dense, tufted, spreading perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 2 feet ( rarely over 1 foot in height ), that is native to western and central Asia.
The pointed oval leaves, up to 1.7 inches in length, are mid-green above, bright green beneath.
The abundant, mid-blue to purplish-blue, bell-shaped flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are borne in clusters of up to 8 over a long season from mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 2 to 9 in full sun ( cool climates ) to partial shade on moist, acidic, fertile, humus-rich, very well drained soil. It is easy to grow, even from seed.

* photos of unknown internet source



Gentiana sino-ornata
A rapid spreading, spreading, carpet-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 x 18 inches, that is native to Tibet and western China. The stems will root as they spread.
The narrow lance-shaped leaves, up to 1.3 inches in length, form rosettes.
The abundant, intense blue, funnel-shaped flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are borne during autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on moist, acidic, fertile, humus-rich, very well drained soil. It is easy to grow where the soil is acidic and the summers are cool. It does not enjoy hot humid summers.
Clumps should be divided every 2 to 3 years to propagate and maintain vigor.

Alba
The flowers are pure white, it is otherwise identical to the species.

Angels Wings
The flowers are bright blue with white feathering and striping.
It is otherwise identical to the species.

var lagodechiana
Prostrate in habit, reaching a maximum size of 15 inches x 2 feet. It makes a great plant for the rock garden. The intense mid-blue flowers are borne solitarily late summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 2 to 7

Gentiana tibetica
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet, that is native to the Himalayas.
The leaves are up to 12 x 2 inches in size.
The creamy-white or greenish flowers are borne during late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. It is more drought tolerant than most Gentians.

Gentiana verna ( Spring Gentian )
A prostrate perennial, reaching up to 4 inches x 1 foot, that is native to the British Isles ( very rare and protected ) and the Alps in Europe where it is much more common.
The oval leaves, up to 1 inch in length, are bright green.
The intense blue, starry flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne during early spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on on moist, fertile, humus-rich to sandy, very well drained soil. It requires cool summers. Propagate yearly from seed as plants are often short-lived.

Alba
Pure white flowers, otherwise identical.

subsp angulosa
Larger growing, reaching up to 4 inches x 1 foot, with tufts of shiny mid-green leaves, up to 0.8 inches in length. The flowers are borne during late spring. It is otherwise similar.

Simmondsia

A genus consisting of a single species that is part of the larger Buxaceae family.

Simmondsia chinensis ( Jojoba )
Jojoba is a medium size shrub native to the desert southwest of the U.S.
They typically grow with a growth spurt during spring then go dormant during summer if moisture is scarce. They are sometimes used as an ornamental shrub.
It is also important to wildlife for shelter and food in its native range.
Jojoba begin bearing seed at as young as 5 years then eventually produce up to 10 pounds per plant of seed in a year. Mature plants may yield up to 6000 pounds of seed which yields 1/3 of that of oil in a year per acre.
The seeds are nutritious, containing 50% oil and 35% protein but arent very tasty. The ripe seed is gathered when the husk is loose. They taste better roasted for an hour in the oven at 250 F or roasted over a campfire.
The oil from the nuts can be used as a low calorie cooking oil as only 20% is assimilated into the body. Jojoba oil is becoming important worldwide and is very similar to the oil produced by the endangered and protected Sperm Whale. The oil is also used as a lubricant for high pressure machinery and gear boxes. Other uses for the oil include:
- transformer coolant
- making of soap
- treating leather
- corrosion inhibitor for industry
- lubrication for scientific instruments
- treating dry and wind damaged skin
- face creams and lip sticks
- suntan lotion
Jojoba thrives in full sun on well drained soil. Propagation is from seed which is planted an inch deep and germinates readily within a week. To produce viable seed you need both male and female plants to pollinate each other and only the female plant produces seed. Generally the best ratio of plants is 6 females to one male.
Jojoba can also be grown from cuttings but they may be difficult to root. Some clones may have higher oil content in the seed however mass planting genetically identical plants increases the risk of pest and disease.
They must be planted via seed on permanent site or transplanted while very small because once established these deep rooters transplant poorly. Plants grown commercially are often sown in long cardboard tubes to accomodate their taproot until being planted on their permanent site. Jojobas very extremely drought resistant due to their very deep taproot which may reach up to 30 feet in as little as 3 years. They may survive for several years with no water at all simply by going dormant, and they can live with an annual average rainfall as low as 5 inches per year.
In cultivation, they grow fastest and produce the most seed with 20 inches of water per year. They grow slowly but live up to 200 years. They are very rarely bothered by pests in the wild though somewhat more often on large scale plantations.
Jojoba plants hate cold weather and the flowers are killed by temperatures below 40 F. Jojoba is extremely valuable as a crop in hot desert regions of the world where few profitable plants can be grown. Over 30 000 acres of it have already been planted in the southwestern U.S. and more grows far outside its native range in Mexico, the Middle East ( esp Isreal ), Africa and Australia. The current worldwide demand requires 250 000 acres of plant, a number that is certain to grow. If you live in a dry climate, you can never go wrong by growing Jojoba.