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 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 garden 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 t ake 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 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 Sprinkler Installation 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?
A: Everything. I travel extensively, so I often gain inspiration from the natural la ndscapes 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 Sprinkler System Installation Mckinney 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 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.
On October 28, 2013, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Rosalind Sedacca, CCT for her "Child-Centered Divorce Expert Series for Parents." We covered a great deal of information in that interview and I ended with the following take-away: "People constantly seek out lawyers who are 'pit bulls', 'sharks', 'very aggressive' and other such things. However, there is a difference between being aggressive and being assertive. A lawyer can be assertive without being aggressive and obtain superior results for their clients regardless of the process involved. Contrary to popular belief, aggressive lawyering has consistently been found to be counter-productive. As an undergraduate student majoring in Economics/Business at UCLA, I learned about a concept known as supply and demand. Essentially, the greater the public's demand for a given good or service, the larger the s upply. Due to the false belief that aggressive lawyers are superior, aggressive lawyers have been in high demand. Unfortunately, aggressive lawyers benefit nobody other than the lawyers themselves. If clients stopped requesting and otherwise seeking out destructive lawyers who are making a tremendous amount of money doing nothing but wreaking havoc and destroying families among other things, the supply of such lawyers would decrease. By the same token, if clients began seeking out assertive lawyers who were not aggressive, the supply of such lawyers would increase and everyone would benefit, except for the destructive lawyers."
I first wrote about this topic for my Psychology and Family Law column in the March/April 2010 edition of the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's bimonthly newsletter. Since the audience for that newsletter is basically limited to the members of the San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association, I think it is time that this topic reached a broader audience.
On May 26, 2013, Stephan Futeral started the following Discussion in the Family Law Professionals LinkedIn group: "Does being 'aggressive' make you an effective lawyer?" This was one of the most active discussions I have ever seen on LinkedIn. There were a total of 166 comments made in this discussion over a three month period, ending on August 26, 2013.
Mr. Futeral attached a link to an article he had written titled "Is An 'Aggressive' Lawyer An 'Effective' Lawyer?" Unfortunately, that article is no longer accessible for free, but it can be viewed for a fee. It seems that Mr. Futeral is a wiser businessman than I am, considering that I have always made all of my writings accessible to anyone at no charge. Nevertheless, the purpose of my writing efforts has always been to educate the public and I would be limiting that goal significantly if I charged people a fee to view my articles. As has been said before, "The needs of the many, out weigh the needs of the few ... or the one." Nevertheless, fortunately, J. Benjamin Stevens used an excerpt from that article for a blog of his own. The excerpt is as follows:
"Unfortunately, lawyers throughout the country are not exactly revered for their congenial nature or their civility toward each other. To make matters worse, TV, movies, and dramatic fiction play to an audience that expects lawyers to shout at the witness during cross-examination - 'YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!' The unfortunate 'truth' is that even in the real world, many lawyers market themselves as being 'aggressive' or are endorsed by other lawyers as such.
If you look up the word 'aggressive,' you will find definitions that include 'ready or likely to attack or confront,' 'pursuing one's aims and interests forcefully, sometimes unduly so,' or 'characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives or attacks.' Being 'aggressive' is not the same thing as being 'zealous.' 'Zeal' is defined as 'great energy or enthusiasm in the pursuit of a cause or an objective.' Zealousness is an admirable attribute; aggressiveness is not. Here is why:
1. Aggressive Lawyers Are On The 'Short-List' - Judges do not care for 'aggressive' lawyers. Ask any judge, and they will tell you that they are worn out from baby-sitting lawyers who cannot get along with one another, who quibble over the most mundane aspects of their case, who accuse other lawyers of misdeeds, who complain about imagined slights, who hold hard-and-fast to deadlines without accommodation or courtesy, and the list goes on. Lawyers who place themselves on a judge's 'short list' of intolerable lawyers are doing a great disservice to their clients. Regrettably, many of the lawyers who place themselves on the 'short-list' are either oblivious to (or 'willfully dense' to) how their attitude negatively impacts upon the court's scheduling of matters, the court's receptiveness to the lawyer's concerns ('Cry Wolf Syndr ome') or even, at times, the court's rulings.
2. Aggressive Lawyers Get As Good As They Give - During my career, I have let other lawyers out of default or extended firm deadlines as a professional courtesy. I can hear the aggressive lawyers' comment now - 'You gave up your client's advantage in exchange for courtesy!' Not so. I can unequivocally state that in those cases, the outcome was positive for the clients and, in some cases, made more positive by acting professionally. Of course, there will always be those parties, or their lawyers, who precipitate a hard-line approach to the case. However, perhaps a better practice is to set a positive tone from the beginning before you come out swinging the day the client walks into your door. If you set a negative, aggressive tone from the outset, then do not be shocked when opposing counsel does not return your phone calls, does not grant you any extensions you request, does not work with you to complete discovery, etc. In all, wh at goes around does, indeed, come around. Hopefully, in all your years of practice, you will never miss a deadline or make a mistake. However, if that day should come, it would be best to have a reputation as being respected and a 'lawyer's lawyer' than to be the attorney to whom everyone else is looking to dish out a little 'payback.'
3. Good Lawyers Don't Just 'Try' Cases; Good Lawyers Try to 'Resolve' Cases - Before I hop down off of my soapbox, there is one last point to be made. In the end, 'scorched earth' policies and aggressive behaviors do not be nefit our clients (except in the movies). Family law attorneys can probably attest to this fact the most. Aggressive behaviors run up legal fees, destroy any real chance of cooperation between parents, and leave children as the victims of litigation. The same is true for civil litigation. Sparing with opposing counsel or writing threatening 'paper tiger' letters or emails is, in a word, useless. Whether you disagree with opposing counsel, or you just don't like their politics, venting your frustrations, lobbing insults or threats, or engaging similar aggressive behaviors does not change the facts or the law of your case. Agree to disagree, spar like professionals, and kept your reputation as a 'zealous' and a 'professional' lawyer intact. In the end, you will earn the admiration of both the bench and the bar. Moreover, your clients will applaud you for your success and not your rancor. In the end, as we say here in the South, 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.'"
In any event, I was the first to comment in that discussion and said, "So True! I have been saying this in different ways for a very long time and have written about it on several occasions since 2010." Lee Thompson stated, "Assertive is good, aggressive doesn't work all that well. Many years ago I took a more aggressive stance on things. Not anymore. When I run into that kind of attorney, maybe I become a little more assertive but remain calm. That seems to drive that type more nuts." Ann E. Johnston commented that, "Assertive and aggressive are very different things. Dealing with an assertive can be good for the client. Dealing with an aggressive attorney is just plain annoying." Sarah C H Phillips quoted the following from Mr. Futeral's article: "'Aggressive behaviors run up legal fees, destroy any real chance of cooperation between parents, and leave children as the victims of litigation.'" She then went on to st ate, "I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately I do still encounter lawyers who seem to believe that aggressive behaviors are what is expected of them. It's never helpful to have your client crying on the phone because of the latest obnoxious letter from the other side that does nothing to progress the case and everything to alienate the parties from each other further."
Jerry Reiss' comment clearly defined the distinction between aggression and assertion. His comment was as follows: "Aggressiveness is not a quality associated with the best lawyers. Its intent is solely bellicose and intended to dominate for the sole sake of winning. It is done solely to impress the client. Animals are aggressive particularly when they are hungry and seek prey for their appetite. Assertive is boldness based on confidence. You wouldn't call an animal assertive. So I do agree with Ann Johnston. But I would throw out one more word: passionate. When we're passionate about something we want to wi n but it is based on principles that we believe that we are right and so we become assertive. When I first wrote how much I won I was criticized as an expert. But I never wanted to lend my name to a cause that should fail and I am very selective about what issues I fight to win. I do not consider myself aggressive. I consider myself assertive driven by passion."
Hugh Starnes, Senior Judge at State of Florida commented as follows: "This is a significant discussion! Thanks for those who initiated it and have continued the dialogue. I think there is a significant moral and legal issue involved. As has already been pointed out, research clearly indicates that continued conflict between parents harms children and places them at risk for optimum development into productive citizens, workers and relationship partners. If this is so, doesn't an attorney have a moral duty to avoid harm to the children, if it is avoidable?
The legal side of this is, doesn't the attorney ha ve a professional and ethical obligation to be knowledgeable about the processes and skills necessary to mitigate conflict and steer the parties toward non-adversarial negotiation, where possible? It is important to change the local professional culture to one where the bulk of the professionals share a commitment to practice in a non-adversarial manner as a first option and to stick with that option until all cooperative resources have been exhausted. This must be a multi-disciplinary effort, and usually starts with leadership from the bench and a core of professionals who work in the family law area."
J Kim Wright contributed as follows: "I thought this clip by Professor Larry Krieger might be appropriate to the original topic. It starts with a bit about positive psychology and integrates it with whether aggressiveness is effective for lawyers. (Hint, it is not, but this has research to back it up.) It is about 6 minutes total." Gary Direnfeld then entered the discussio n by saying, "Aggressive? The first lawyer's letter often sets the tone and case direction. Clients should choose wisely. The discussion ended with the following comment from David Karp: I, too, have written about this recently."
I would be remiss if I neglected to mention that some of those involved in the discussion do believe otherwise. For example, Eric K. Johnson said, "This thread's question, 'Does being 'aggressive' make you an effective lawyer?' is a rhetorical question. Of course being aggressive can make one an effective lawyer. We've all witnessed it. If it weren't the case, lawyers who were otherwise not aggressive would not adopt aggressive behaviors. Aggressive lawyers do not always succeed due to aggressiveness, but that can be said of any lawyer behavior. Aggressive lawyers 'succeed' in certain ways. As with any strength (and let's not fool ourselves, aggressiveness is and requires strength of a certain kind), aggressiveness brings with it certain weakne ss. Too much aggression and you're an ***hole. Too little aggression and you're a waste of your client's money and trust. It's that simple." Please note, however, that in his own profile, Eric admits that he "struggles with getting along with others who disagree with [him]." Terence Shanley commented as follows: "Forceful advocacy of a substantive legal issue makes you an effective lawyer. Just being aggressive without a substantive legal position just makes you annoying." My response was "Terrence, I guess that depends upon how one defines 'forceful' and 'zealous.' My pleadings and articles have always been very persuasive, but not what some people consider 'forceful' or 'zealous.' Nevertheless, they have always served me well."
For those who still believe that http://www.rmtucker.co.za/ aggressive lawyering is good lawyering, I would like to share with you the following email Best Attorney I received from a judicial officer for my contributions to that discussion: "You are so far ahead of most of the Bar, thank you for your great and insightful comments." For those interested in reading those comments and the overall discussion on this topic, I would recommend that you view the actual LinkedIn discussion.
The real problem was raised by Ann E. Johnston, when she said, "But, therein lies the problem. The client. Those clients who think that attorneys being loud and aggressive are better lawyers are the first ones to argue that the lawyer was no good." In other words, it all comes down to the economic realities of supply and demand.
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TORONTO As climate change makes longer, drier summers a reality in many parts of the world, a new trend in landscaping is taking root in Canada.
In Toronto, where precipitation levels were 52 percent below the seasonal average over the past six months, according to government data, residents are trading in their manicured lawns for environmentally friendly organic landscapes.
"Irrigation is a huge issue as water is such a valuable resource," said Claire Suo-Cockerton of landscaping company Aesthetic Earthworks. "We are trying to plant material that is more appropriate today in our climate."
Organic landscapers use drought resistant plants and shrubs native to the region, which encourage the development micro-organisms in the soil. This attracts birds and insects to act as natural pest and disease control.
A well-managed organic landscape is self-sustaining, whereas a traditional yard needs to be watered at least onc e per week, Suo-Cockerton said.
"It's a drastic lifestyle change for those who incorporate it in their homes," she added.
But the change may be a bit too drastic for average homeowner.
Kevin MacDonald, operations manager of Humber Nurseries near Toronto, said he hasn't seen an increase in the sale of native plants and shrubs. He said the downside to native plants is they are more susceptible to native insects.
"By planting a cultivated variety, that is non-native, you may not end up with diseases and insect problems, simply because the diseases and insects that would traditionally attack that plant are not found in the new location," he said.
Still, the main reason why traditional gardens remain popular may be purely aesthetic.
"In most cases homeowners will have a pref erence for what looks best," MacDonald said.
While the bare shrubs and woodchips of an organic landscape don't quite have the curb appeal of an ornamental garden, commercial and residential buildings looking to go green are picking up on the trend.
"From a developer's standpoint it's a great marketing tool because people are becoming very conscious of the environment," said Melissa Ferrato of the Canada Green Building Council (CGBG).
The CGBG uses the leadership in energy and environ mental design (LEED) standard developed in the United States to measure the "green factor" of a building. Avoiding pesticides, lawnmowers and leafblowers all reduce a building's carbon footprint, contributing to a higher LEED score.
"Native, organic plants is what we're all about," said Ferrato. "We really discourage the use of manicured lawns and pesticides."
While organic landscaping is only now gaining popularity in the private sector, it has long been used by city parks departments.
"We've been moving away from traditional lawns for many years now," said Patricia Landry a liaison officer at the Toronto parks department. "We are using plants able to withstand drought, pollution and the changing climate."
Organic landscaping makes economic sense for urban municipalities, Landry said. Less money is spent on labor and irrigation. And reintroducing native plants provides habitat for birds and small animals.
While efforts to convert Toronto's http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sprinklers ornamental flowerbeds to organic gardens were met with public opposition, some of the cultivated annuals were swapped with native plants.
"It's about trying to keep a balance," said Landry. "Finding different ways to keep those areas a little more environmentally friendly."
Tips for Cold Climates and Growing Green House Gardens
A cold greenhouse is simply one that is not heated; it is an affordable way in which to begin gardening in a greenhouse. Many plants and vegetation as well as flowers grow just fine in an unheated greenhouse.
Therefore, if you have a cold or unheated greenhouse, you will have some limitation since some plants or flowers have a temperature that must Spinkler Installation be kept consistent in order to survive.
Therefore, you will have to choose the hardier plants, flowers, and vegetation that can grow without the needed heat or control of temperature.
Capturing Heat in the Summer
The cold greenhouse captures heat in the summer months. In addition, it is also the simplest type of greenhouse simply because it has no artificial heat source, it's even better than most lean to greenhouses. This essentially means that your growing season is limited to the outside temperature. Therefore, if you live in a very cold climate, you may find that you can only garden a couple of months each year. On the other hand, if you live in a warmer climate, you will be able to garden in your greenhouse for many more months in the year.
Of course, a cold greenhouse extends the growing season because it can capture the heat from the sun during the day, whereas if the plants or vegetation were outdoors, they would surely die. In addition, the plants and vegetation are protected from rain and wind.
Why Use Only a Cold Greenhouse
Many people only use a cold greenhouse and garden during the summer months simply because installing a heater means more costs in their utilities and it means more fuel is used, which ultimately effects the environment.
When you have a cold greenhouse without the use of heat, you can insulate the greenhouse so that when the sun shines through, the heat the greenhouse captures remains inside the greenhouse for longer. This means sealing off any cracks or anywhere that the heat may seep out through and cause the heat to dissipate faster. This often becomes a personal crusade in order to capture and retain as much of the daytime sunlight as possible.
Costs of Cold Greenhouses
Obviously, because there is no heat source inside a cold greenhouse, it is much cheaper to purchase and more efficient to operate then a heated green house. If you have never done greenhouse gardening, the cold greenhouse is definitely a great place t o begin because you can always add a source of heat later.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to greenhouse gardening, many people choose the cold greenhouse because it is cheaper to operate than a heated greenhouse. They find ways to capture the sun's heat during the day and therefore, have natural heat, which for plantation and vegetation is often Sprinkler System much better than artificial heat.
The landscape design market is booming. But what is booming along with it is the market of the online software that actually helps you design a http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/openspace/garden/london-gardens landscape for your own house. I think it is a brilliant innovation. The advantages of the same are manifold. Not only do you save on the money that you would be giving to a professional landscaper, you will also actually be putting yourself into the design. Each and every corner in your house can now be a reflection of you and your family.
People in the United States spend a huge amount of money in landscape architecture as property is considered as the most important investment there. After all, it is an investment that will bring years of enjoyment, peace and harmony at your property. However, it is very important to understand all aspects of landscaping Mckinney Sprinkler System so that the money is not wasted and also that your landscape architects do not cheat you. Also, it is very vital to understand that the landscape should reflect your personality and not vice-versa. So do not overdo anything.
While choosing a landscape design for your house, considering the geographical and climatic conditions of your area is of utmost importance. For example, planning lush green lawns bordered with exotic Sprinkler Installation flowers in an area where drought is a high possibility would be rather foolish. In contrast, a rock garden in a rocky terrain would be a fantastic idea. Also, in an area where water is available in plenty around the year, a water feature like a pond that reflects the sky and the surrounding surfaces can add depth and dimension to your landscape.
Along with the softwares, there are also a huge number of online web sites that provide help. Some sites are owned by professional landscapers who fill their website with beautiful pictures of what they could your backyards into. However, some are in it for the pure pleasure of landscaping and fill their sites with very useful home landscape design ideas and tips.
Some of the easy to use and inexpensive landscape design software available for home landscape design over the Internet are:
Plan 3D: is an online landscape design service tha t helps you create home landscape with features available for walks, drives, patios, trees and planting. It lets you view your design from any angle.
Instant Architect Home (Broderbund Software): provides the ability to design your own home or landscape and is very intuitive in nature. Hence, no previous experience is required.
Fences and Gates: software helps design fences and gates in an artistic manner. It also provides a list of all the materials that will be required to build the fence after the design has been finalized.
3D Home Architect Home & Landscape: provide easy to use home and landscape design solutions, which also contains a complete set of landscape design tools. It uses the latest design techniques and technologies to make designing a very enjoyable experience.
35 Do It Yourself Backyard Project Plans: allows building 35 different projects for your backyard. It allows a combination of 10 sheds, 3 playhouses, 3 gazebos, 3 arbors, 2 picnic tables, a deck, a doghouse, a sandbox, fence and a loveseat. This is very inexpensive software and permits printing of plans.
Realtime Landscaping PRO (Idea Spectrum): helps you visualize even the most demanding landscape design projects. Using the latest advances in 3D technology, even beginners will find it easy to plan and visualize design ideas.
Realtime Landscaping PLUS (Idea Spectrum): helps create highly realistic 3D and photo based landscape designs. This software is ideal for homeowners as well as professional designers. The plus point is that no CAD or prior architectural experience is required.
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