Building a Garden That Makes the Best Use of Water

It's been raining a lot lately, this being hurricane season. While it's good to leave our drought of the past three years behind, it's clear that sudden drenching rains, or sustained heavy rain, can cause flooding and serious damage. When water falls too hard or for too long, it doesn't get absorbed into the soil; it runs off into storm drains or streams, and eventually into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. This contributes to pollution by carrying fertilizer, pesticides and roadway contaminants straight to waterways.

It's possible, though, to harness and clean this water. "Ideally, most if not all of the water that falls on a site should stay on the site," said Zora Lathan, executive director of the Chesapeake Ecology Center in Annapolis. But "we've leveled out the land and paved over paradise." One solution to cleaning up the waterways, Lathan said, is to put contours back into the land by creating rain gardens. These are gardens that imitate nature and allow rain to infiltrate the soil, be filtered of pollutants and recharge the ground water. "We all contribute to storm-water runoff, and we need to be part of the solution."

The rain garden concept has caught on, and there are initiatives in numerous places to promote them. In Kansas City, Mo., a public-private effort launched in 2005 aims to create 10,000 rain gardens in the metropolitan area. In Atlanta, the Clean Water Campaign seeks to encourage the creation of rain gardens with a detailed how-to brochure. Pepco has rain gardens at its Benning Road service center in the Anacostia River watershed in Washington. There have been efforts in Maryland by Pepco and by environmental organizations to promote the installation of rain gardens.

Lathan is starting a major public education campaign to encourage people in Anne Arundel County to practice Bay-saving landscaping techniques such as the use of green roofs, rain barrels, rain gardens and pervious paving that allow water to seep into the ground. She calls it "rainscaping." The effort will include posters and brochures, and also places where people can see what these elements look like and see and hear how they work. Right now her effort is concentrated on Anne Arundel County, but Lathan said what she and her associates are doing could easily be replicated throughout the Chesapeake watershed.

A rainscaping arbor has been installed at the Chesapeake Ecology Center, a nonprofit environmental organization that runs 18 native plant demonstration gardens on the grounds of J. Albert Adams Academy in Annapolis. The academy is an alternative school for at-risk middle school students, who work in the gardens. It has a green roof, rainwater-collecting barrels, permeable paving under the arbor and three rain gardens. Lathan's plans include a Web site, more rainscaping locations installed in public areas and nursery operations using these water-conserving practices.

Lathan said she always points out that rain gardens are simple to install. Some people have become intimidated by information about "bio-retention systems," which are often larger installations than required by homeowners. While rain gardens are a form of bio-retention, they needn't be complex or multi-layered, requiring massive earth moving or heavy labor. They can be fairly ordinary gardens of native plants.

These plants are installed in a shallow depression. "A garden in a saucer" is how Lathan describes it. Homeowners who want to install a rain garden should do some homework first. There are issues of siting and size, and some locales are simply not right for rain gardens. It's important, for instance, that the soil underneath be permeable.

It's common in modern construction for contractors to level the land and regrade it with compacted clean fill, said Stuart Schwartz, senior research scientist at the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The leveled area is planted with sod or seeded. Turf grows on a very thin layer of soil. It looks green and healthy, but it no longer functions as a water-absorbing and -filtering system. "The perviousness of the soil has been compromised," he said. In these cases, he said, turfed areas actually increase runoff.

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To Personalize Your Garden, Think Beyond Plants

When homeowners cut their landscaping budget, they typically get rid of things such as garden pools, fountains, walls, seating, sculpture, containers and lighting. But these elements, which can be grouped together as "site amenities," contribute to the impact of a garden.

These additions can cost thousands of dollars, or they can cost nothing. Whether you are scavenging for the right sculptural element, such as a rock, log, shell or driftwood, or commissioning a $200,000 work of art, the investment can be worth it. Once you get used to site amenities, you'll always want them for the comfort and interest they provide. Even pink flamingo lawn ornaments can look good if placement is considered in advance, perhaps under a banana tree or by a pool.

· Garden pools. Position garden pools in sunny areas so plants will thrive and the water won't collect a lot of leaves and debris. Bring the pool into balance by creating a complete, living, breathing ecosystem. Install flowering aquatic plants. They will shade the algae and subdue its growth. Snails will clean the pool and a pump will recirculate and aerate the water. Add tadpoles and fish that can be trained to eat out of your hand. You can get complete information on installing and maintaining a water feature from companies that specialize in fountains and ponds. Local companies are listed under these headings in the Yellow Pages.

· Fountains. The appeal of water is so strong that almost every garden has an area that can benefit from a fountain. In addition to beauty, fountains add sound. Self-contained, freestanding units are available in fiberglass, metal, ceramic, stone, bamboo, glass and concrete. Styles vary from plain to ornate; rustic to formal; bubble to spray in a wide range of prices. Most homeowners can install a self-contained fountain. The constant flow of water in fountains is not conducive to growing aquatic plants.

· Walls. Walls add stability to a site. Retaining walls can provide level areas for seating, water retention and plants. Stone walls can serve as sculptural elements, too. Building a low rock retaining wall can be a simple garden project for cool weather. Natural fieldstone walls can add appeal to a property, especially one located on a slope.

· Seating. A comfortable place to sit provides function, aesthetics and somewhere to relax in your garden. Lash a hammock between two trees for the classic picture of summer laziness or attach it to a self-standing frame so you can move it around from patio to pool to perennial garden. Anything can serve as a seat -- rocks, walls, tree stumps. You can sit on simple folding chairs or ornate stone benches. A well-placed, well-designed bench can sometimes be the most appealing amenity in a garden. Place a bench in a separate area off the path and you have a destination. Use cast stone, wood or iron, whatever is consistent with your design. Put it in a location that will provide maximum enjoyment and incentive to stay in the garden. Comfortable sitting heights for most adults are 17 to 22 inches with a seat depth of 12 to 20 inches.

· Sculpture. Objects that add ornamental interest are excellent accents to your garden. Sculptural elements can make a plain space special. Use one to grace an entry. Integrate a favorite found piece or statue into the garden or in some way use ornamentation that reflects its surroundings. Back up sculpture with shrubbery. Relate it to a grove of trees. Set it in a bed of ground cover. Work it into the landscape design. One way to use the size of statuary or ornamental objects to psychologically influence garden proportions is by placing a large sculptural element directly across from a smaller piece. This makes sculptures appear farther apart than they actually are. A small statue placed on a low level makes its surroundings look larger. A small object elevated appears farther away. Large statuary near the observer diminishes the importance of the other surroundings.

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Garden Chair cushions

Most people prefer having traditionally designed chair cushions at their outdoor spaces. The most important thing is to ensure that the chairs are comfortable. The modern spaces are quite popular nowadays and are mostly designed for entertainment and meditation purposes. The best thing about the garden chair cushions as well as other appliances are very easy to find and the prices are quite reasonable. The cushions come in different designs, styles and colors so you can choose depending on your taste and preference.

There are quite a number of companies that manufacture different designs of garden chair cushions thus, it is important that you carefully choose the best company. Other than the prices there are quite a number of things that you have to put into consideration when getting the cushions.

Material- the cushions are made of different materials and thus you have to carefully choose the best type of material. When choosing the material, you have to consider the location of the chair. If the chair is under a shade then you can choose to have any material but if there is no shade then you have to ensure that you get cushions with materials that are easy to wash. Some cushions are not washable and thus if there is no shade they will be more prone to dust which means that you will be required to wash them regularly.

The size- you will also have to consider the size of your chair to ensure that you don't get oversized cushions or too small cushions. If the cushions don't fit well then, the chair will not be comfortable.

The design of your chair- most people forget that not every cushion will go well with their particular chairs. It could be that your chairs are shaped in different designs so you will have to ensure that you can get the exact type of cushions that will fit the chairs.

A good chair cushion should provide comfort and the same time offer you luxury especially when you just want to relax and enjoy the cool breeze at the gardens. Other than that, you also want something that will look good on your furniture and give it that classy look even if it is at the garden. The fact that the chair cushions are made in different colors, styles and designs, you can easily use them to dress up old lounges and chairs that you might be having. The cushions are mostly useful if the furniture is weak or on hard wooden seats or even benches.

You can give your garden chairs a different look just by changing the cushions with the seasons or even getting special design cushions for each occasion or festival. The cushions are very easy to make and if you have the time then, it is much easier if you make them by yourself instead of buying readymade. All you will need to do is get the right measurement for the chairs and buy the right type of material that you will need to ensure that the cushion is comfortable. A chair cushion set is not only useful for decoration but it is also beneficial to your health especially if you sit down for long hours. In order to get comfortable and even improve on your back's condition and posture you will have to get an ergonomic back cushion.

Sitting on a comfortable cushion reduces stress and will improve on your efficiency. If you do not have the time to make yourself a chair cushion you need not to worry as you can easily get one from the local stores or even on online stores. However, you need to ensure that you get the proper measurements for your chair. There are other stores that will specialize in custom made cushions so you can made your order if you have something unique in mind that you want to be designed. Most people prefer the custom made cushions because you can be sure of the size, shape, material and color that are used. Good quality cushions can be found with polyester filling which is much better for the garden chairs as they tend to dry very fast and have a very high density of foam in the filling. When getting garden chair cushions you need to ensure that they are durable, stain resistant and attractive.

In most cases you will find that the outdoor cushions are made of vinyl as it is very easy to clean but most people don't like it as it can get a little sticky which makes them very uncomfortable. So, if you have to get them you will be required to cover them with towels to ensure they don't stick. The type of cushion you choose will have a very big impact in your health especially for people who suffer from back pain. Getting a comfortable cushion will ensure that the pain is reduced and that you can sit down for endless hours without feeling uncomfortable. Having an uncomfortable cushion can cause many back problems which may arise gradually even without you noticing.

For those people who suffer from ailments such as Coccyx, the best type of cushion to use is a foam cushion. It doesn't matter whether it is in your office, home or garden but you should always ensure that your cushion is comfortable. A good cushion will gradually improve your posture and health accordingly. The seat cushions come in many different styles and designs but you will find that the foam seat cushions use the modern memory foam which is the best material for every type of chair cushion that you can think of.

The memory foam material is quite soft and supports the body. For that reason, you will find that lumber support cushions are mostly made of the memory foam material. Once you start using the foam seat cushion your back will improve and you will even start getting an improved posture that will support your back. You should also ensure that you get a wedge type of cushion that will support your body in a front position and the same time not get one that will make you bend as you sit.

The best thing about the foam cushions is that they are portable and thus you can take it back to the house or even go with it to the office. Thus you will also not have to worry about it being prone to hard weather conditions outside. Getting the right type of cushion might seem like an easy task but it is not, you have to ensure that it provides you with health benefits and the sane time give your chair that attractive and appealing look. You can visit several stores online to see some of the different types of chair cushions that you can get before deciding on what to buy. You can also go through some of the reviews given by those who have purchased the cushions to know exactly what benefits the cushions have. You also need to remember that the prices of the cushions will differ depending on the material as well as where you purchase them.

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V&A William Morris Garden File Folder

You may actually enjoy organizing and filing your papers with Galison's attractive William Morris Morning Garden File Folders. These folders, the matching file tote, and coordinating desk accessories were created in cooperation with London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which has a comprehensive assortment of William Morris Art and Crafts designs among its collections. This design details from John Henry Dearle's Golden Lily color woodblock print on paper. It was published as a wallpaper sample by Morris & Co. 1880-1917.

Price: $8.99

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