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I’m not one to wear socks with sandals, but working with environmental issues is pretty much as common and constant as working with plants or working with hardscapes in this profession whether you do residential work, National Parks, strip malls, or urban development.

That supports both Trace’s perspective AND Robert’s perspective in this way.…[Read more]

thanks amanda, thats helpful. I have come across a few suppliers in the northwest, mainly for full columns or irregular wall rock. I have found some local suppliers for dimensional basalt but they are shipping it from china.

Robert – it wasn’t meant as a slur, just there is a different perception of TX in its conservative slant (I myself grew up in CO, MN, MO and VA).  I do agree with you in the concerns I have for degrees in ‘sustainability’  (the local elite university here spits kids out with all kinds of degrees in sustainability with many ‘interested’ in green i…[Read more]

With your background, skillset and interest and given that you are in Canada, you should look at the MLA program at the University of Guelph.  Sustainability is a major focus (have a look at the research done by the faculty there for more info) and you do not need a BLA to do an MLA.  Bear in mind that an MLA is a research degree and is inte…[Read more]

When I was doing landscaping in Eugene, OR we would get all our wall basalt through Lane Forest Products http://laneforestproducts.com/products/index.php?product_id=280
There are also direct quarries in the area but I can’t recall their names

Before I die . . . I want to horseride up to the Grand Canyon with indians.

Not sure this one grows in your neck of the woods :
Trachelospermum asiaticum

Toby, thanks for your reply. Both of these are on my radar. 

Salvia Bee’s Bliss
Baccharis ‘Pigeon Point’
Some of the Arctostaphylos species
Mahonia repens (part sun/shade)
Some of the low growing Zauschneria but aesthetically need to be cut down every year before spring
The cotoneaster mentioned in this thread is also a good choice. 

Some will depend on the characteristics of the site as asked in this…[Read more]

Goustan, thanks for trying to dive deeper. However, I feel like the list is pretty small for a groundcover with the given criteria. Any you can think of would be helpful, whether they are less than 12″ or shade/sun, etc. I appreciate your help.

Cotoneaster ‘Lowfast’ and/or Acacia ‘Lowboy’ on a RainBird 1400 series bubbler (or similar) for mass planting and low water use.
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=451
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=…
http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/products/sprayNozzles/1400PCbubbl…

Are we, as LAs, part of the group that programs space rather than creating “un-programmed” space or not?

To me, every cities in the world should install more benches! and even add some fantasy as double side benches like this one http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/vimalto/contemporary-public-double-side-benches-wood-metal-60806-797408.html

also ironic that i cant find basalt in basalt.

closest to dark grey im finding is a kansas sandstone, but its expensive with a dimensional cut, flame finish and all..Ironicallt basalt tile from china is hlaf the price of the kansas sandstone and can be cut to virtually any dimension and number of finishes. I need basalt because its for the town of basalt, so in this case the stone is significant.

Robert has in the past made his views clear on ‘sustainability’ and as I understand practice in the more conservative parts of TX.  I’m not sure, but I suspect some of it may be a reaction to ‘market fads’ (correct me if I’m wrong here Robert).
I do agree wholeheartedly with you (and you’ve made great points below).  Each part of the country has d…[Read more]

Nature Explore –http://www.natureexplore.org/NaturalProducts/index.cfm has a variety of natural products for infant-school aged children including tree stump stools that are field-tested in a preschool setting.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/1Sk8park-no-Porto-Parque-da-Musica-competition-2012/9435825take a look, would you?

It’s all explained there, 

such an interesting discussion.