GardenDesignOnline

Green Space Awards 2007

Project Evergreen, which promotes the development of green spaces and their environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits, is calling for nominations for its 2007 "Because Green Matters" award.  The award recognizes the individual, company, or the organization that has either created or promoted a major project to provide more green space.  In 2006, Project Evergreen honored the Southern Land Company in Franklin, TN (above) for its efforts to include landscaping in real estate projects; in 2005, the University of Akron was cited for adding 30 acres of open green space to its campus and planting 30 thousand new trees.

The award is presented each year on Earth Day, April 22nd. "Green spaces have an impact on every aspect of our life," said Project Evergreen's executive director Dan Gardner.  "Our environment, economy and lifestyle are all improved by well-maintained green spaces." 

Anyone who knows of a great green space project may submit an application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2007.  More details available on Project Evergreen's website -- www.projectevergreen.com

(image: Southern Land Company)

Landscape Design Answers

Landscape designer Jane Bath, who's been practicing  in the Atlanta, GA, area for more than 25 years, has produced an extremely useful and handy reference work focusing on 300 landscape design questions and answers that provide practical solutions for implementation. In the "Landscape Design Answer Book" (Cool Springs Press), she'll let you know why evergreens are an important component of any good garden design; tells you how to figure the square footage needed for chairs and tables on a porch or deck; explains why walls or fences are sometimes better than plants for screening.  The book is packed as well with easy-to-understand drawings -- and beautiful color photographs by Kimberly Brown that illustrate each point she's trying to make.

Good index, good glossary of landscape and horticultural terms, and an excellent checklist of things to consider (track the position of the sun throughout the day; select chosen plants for mature size, not the size at purchase) when planning and installing any landscape.

Jane also discovered the perennial Dianthus 'Bath's Pink,' which was eventually named after her.  It's ranked as one of the country's top 10 perennials.  Maybe this book should be in the top 10 "useful books" on your garden book shelf.

(click on image to purchase book)