Activity

Tanya,  It’s great that you have a client willing to expend the effort necessary for proper maintenance of even sparse planting.  We run into situations where commercial project incorporates large site areas and the local governing authority mandates 90% coverage of plant material within three years.  We have very successful native plantings in th…[Read more]

never get tired of looking at these! I wonder if something like this could be done in a more urban setting? a community project to ‘grow a bridge’ would be pretty cool.

Keith, I just read the CE rules for the state of NJ and you are misinformed. The NJ rules allow CE credits a very wide variety of activities–far more than just the annual meeting. Here is a link to the NJ rules: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/arch/arch_rules.htm
The CE rules start on page 13.
There are literally thousands of free online CE…[Read more]

I just finished a project in an arid high plains region – about the same precip as you are talking about. Trees and shrubs were selected to be either native or well adapted. The client did not want permanent irrigation (no one has it up there, except for farming, so could be a maintenance and installation problem).We specified Tree Gators for the…[Read more]

they aint all lengthy but cheers! lol  As for thebook I was waiting until I’m old and grey.  Oh!  I am – rofl

Let’s not forget that one of the biggest things, if not the biggest thing, that will put you over the top is if you have contacts, connections, or any demonstrated asset which indicates that you can bring in new work. Not a skill set that can do new work, but actually bring new prospects to the office.
 
Obviously, that is not going to help ent…[Read more]

What do firms look for? WORK. For, if the firm has no work, then you have no work. They will push and pull employees to accomodate how much they have. If you are productive and they have enough work, you stay. If not, you go. Everything else is semantics and BS, despite what is taught and what you have heard.
These are the facts boys and girl…[Read more]

…somewhat densely planted …xeriscapes … 
Interesting play on words, but I get what you mean.  Isn’t it interesting how the magnitude of water us is affected by the quantity of plant material.
 
Thanks all for the conversation; I’ve worked with most of these options at one time or another and pretty much agree with everyone.

In an arid area (10″ annual) precipitation…  There are some riparian zones and the occasional shallow water table.

Gray water from laundry is probably best oriented toward an area with various salt tolerant species of trees, shrubs, and groundcover.  There are books on Greywater design by Art Ludwig and Brad Lancaster that show detailed diagrams for building such a system.(pipe dumps into a mulch filled ditch next to woodlands)
If you’re looking to establish…[Read more]

 Installing a perforated pipe close to street trees can be fitted with a dripper for deeper penetration but also allow for aeration, fertilization, and simplify flood watering with a hose. Generally most important in clay soils.  
In sandy soils subsurface irrigation should be fine.
Also utilizing pavers instead of concrete within range of the pro…[Read more]

I prefer the subsurface irrigation(Netafim) that Doug referred to.  It’s expensive to install per square foot but you can’t beat the water efficiency. These systems need a pressure regulator(35-50psi) and filter post cylenoid.  Netafim stands out in subsurface irrigation because the emitters are self-flushing and clog resistant.  I like to put bet…[Read more]

Where are you located?

much respect –  “lone thinker” works. IDEO looks interesting.  thank you for the heads up.

We’re probably working on the same competition too, lol.

Ha!
I hung in there for our one semester long group project in school only to redo it from scratch by myself over christmas break for my portfolio. I dont know if I could go as far as accusing my peers of stifling my genius though, lol.