Activity

Tom-
Latin only for plant names- most of them are fairly common, though I saw a couple I did not know.
Best of luck!

I’m taking the California CSE exam in he next couple of weeks and my weakest section is plants.  Does anyone know if the test gives you both common and botanical names, are you expected to memorize all botanical names?
Thank You

Hi Andrew. I definitely specified the project I wanted the photos to go into, but only the first 8 went in. I Didn’t realize this until I was all finished of course. Is there not a way to move existing photos in my main album to a specific project?

Miles,
Thanks for updating us on your project!  You can add more photos to your existing project by selecting the project when you are uploading the photos.  Here’s a screen shot:
Also, if the Flash Uploader is giving you trouble, try the simple version here: https://land8.com/photo/photo/new
Thanks again and keep sharing your awesome work!

Gang I have posted some photos. Started an album called natural swimming pools but the project/photo upload interface seems to pretty much not work anymore so only 8 photos made it into the album. The rest are just in my photos. If anyone knows how to add photos to an existing album please let me know. I can also just create a dropbox folder and a link.

All stone is out of NY. It’s essentially PA bluestone in boulder version. Very stable. Yes I’m sure we will get some pieces popping off in the winter. That’s just the nature of natural material which we accept
Deep end is 8-8.5′ deep. Total volume is around 40,000 gallons. No aerator although we have allowed provisions to add one later if we think…[Read more]

Thanks Miles for updating the thread with more infos and pictures. Congrats on the progress, I’m so glad for you !
I’m just like Jason, hoping  for more details and construction pictures. Can’t wait to see it with plants and life in those rocks !
What ratio between filtration and swimming did you guys go for and why ? How deep is deepest area  ?

Hi, I have a question. Why are there stones covering the swim zone? I’m used to having gravel in the filter zone, which is planted, and boulders and such only for additional aesthetics. It seems to me that stones covering the swim zone are an unnecessary expense.

Yes I have questions.  First off, that looks amazing!  I really like the look of all that rock work.  I assume you tested it initially to ensure it keeps a balanced pH/Phosphates etc..?  What is the type of boulder here in the front with the wavy lines?  Where was this built?  Curious as winter freezes would crack/break up some types of rocks…[Read more]

Hello Friends. I’m picking back up on our discussion of Natural Swimming Pools. Our pool is nearly complete and will soon be ready for water. We have been consulting with Mick Hilleary of Total Habitat on the design. Our pool/pond has a fiber reinforced polyethylene liner and natural stone walls that separate the swim zone from the filter zone. We…[Read more]

They had a native plants exhibit a few years back with studies on plant diversity and distribution – it was well presented, though in a limited format.  I’m assuming someone at one of the academic institutions in the area is still pursuing the research and public outreach (through installation art -ala West8’s inflatable cows- and more run of the…[Read more]

I agree on all counts.
Of course BBG has essentially gutted their research department in the past few years.

I would think Central Park, Hudson River Park, the High Line, etc is getting at the intent of this project (site appropriateness may be an issue…)
If biodiversity is a hot topic, her efforts may be best channeled to assist in the outreach of some of the efforts that scientists at BBG, etc are working on?

oh, that is interesting. Legal protections for biodiversity is not what she presents in this piece.
Starting with that thought, i can imagine an artwork comparing new York (a bio-diverse population of humans if there ever was one!) to the teeming masses in a native ‘scape.. Or something like that..Can go anywhere from ‘it’s political art’ starting…[Read more]

I have been corresponding with the person behind this. After years of work to get legal protections for biodiversity in the City she is frustrated, This is indeed her P.R. effort to take her advocacy work to another level. I expect that it would send the wrong message (much as Andrew suggests)

Interesting post, Rob, thank you. The photos of the forest in the video, with that lovely mature forest floor,  big roots, the feeling of layers of organic material hardened by weathering, pretty funny to try to recreate that in a week. Plus, New yorkers don’t appreciate the green spaces? i don’ t think so. new yorkers love their green spaces,…[Read more]

As the test as been switched over to the computer for over a year now I would be curious to see if people still have the same impressions on all this.
I agree with you Andrew on some of your reasoning why licensed professionals don’t really care about it. The older LA’s in the office did not even know what CLARB was much less that the test was now…[Read more]

Thanks for the input guys. One I my main rules is I never hand a drawing over until try are signed up. My boss is all about us getting paid for the design, I’m the firs designer the company has had so we are new to a full time design position so we are working out the kinks.

I agree with the other posts, especially Andrew’s point about getting the client’s “buy in”.  
If you suspect the client is nervous about the expense of the build, you have every right to ask them what their budget is.  

CLARB has no power on their own. They are empowered because the state licensing boards choose to use them …. that is the outside oversight. The problem, if there is a problem, is that the people on the state boards go with the status quo. That is where to go if you want to get changes. If state boards start dropping the CLARB LARE then they’ll…[Read more]