FORT MOHAVE Gardeners new to the area may be wondering if they should be watering their palm trees after last weeks cold snap.

Yes, says Star Nursery plant guru and store manager Isidro Ramirez.

Theres a schedule to follow for the trees, Ramirez said. Right now, because it is winter, watering enough to soak the root ball once a week is plenty. Once the temperature climbs to 80 degrees, gardeners should increase watering to three times a week.

While much of the country is still struggling through ice and snow, it is the middle of gardening season in the Tri-state.

Gardening season in the Southwest is roughly October through March, said Ramirez. Right now were getting our shipments of plants for spring and summer color.

Ramirez earned his nickname of plant guru after working with Star Nursery for 10 years.

I listened to the real gurus and tried to learn, he said. I also learned a lot by doing by growing plants in a garden.

Star Nursery, which has locations in Nevada, Utah and Arizona, opened the Bullhead City store last August at 6325 Highway 95. The nursery offers a broad selection of citrus and landscape trees, shrubs, vines, decorative grasses, succulents and cactus, and other garden plants, as well as landscaping supplies from decorative rock to timbers.

Many people new to the area dont realize that given the right care, they can grow almost anything here, Ramirez said. Many familiar garden plants will require afternoon shade in the summer and protection from the cold in the winter, but otherwise will do quite well.

The season for many near-universal gardening staples such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons and flowering plants such as vinca, cyclamen, snapdragons and geraniums may be winding down, but possibly less familiar climate-adapted plants are poised to fill local yards with color.

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How does your garden grow?

Dalhousie Universitys agricultural campus in Bible Hill is changing the academic landscape for Atlantic Canadian post-secondary schools.

Well known for its architecture program at the main campus in Halifax, Dalhousie is launching an undergraduate program in landscape architecture in its faculty of agriculture.

This program is about making connections between the landscape contracting industry and landscape architecture, Tracey MacKenzie, an environmental sciences professor, said in a news release.

It will focus on designing functional spaces, using an interdisciplinary approach that includes horticultural and engineering skills and applying environmental knowledge to create site solutions, MacKenzie said.

This program will encourage students to be in tune with natural ecosystems and apply a creative mindset to tackle various environmental and design challenges.

The program will be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada and only the third in the entire country.

The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects explains that the field combines art and science in the creation and preservation of built environments, taking a holistic approach that recognizes that the needs and activities of people can be complementary parts of larger environmental services.

The new Dalhousie program will include areas of study that explore site and ecosystem analysis, engage in collaborative design exercises, apply concepts of sustainability and efficiency, create construction details and specifications, and enhance the environment both esthetically and ecologically. Students will receive training to develop technical skills in design, communication, installation and management.

The program is a direct response to the need for skills and techniques to support a growing profession.

As we face increasingly urgent issues such as climate change, habitat loss, pressures on agricultural land, the necessity of creating better urban environments and other similar concerns, landscape architects are the professionals that are trained to create sensitive science-based solutions through the planning and design of our built and natural environments, said Gordon Smith of the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects.

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Landscape architecture program to launch at Dalhousies Bible Hill campus

The Dirt Guys Tool Box
Yes, there is a massive difference between our tool box and the plumbers tool box, but it it one of the many tools in our: "Dirt Work and Grading Tool Box......

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The Dirt Transfer
When the dirt is in one place and has to be in another place! LOL The rumors are true, we #39;re really good at what we do, but it #39;s not something we get too boa...

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Scoop, then Load
Is it a good idea for us to remind potential customers that we are veteran, heavy equipment operators and their existing property, structures, or asset #39;s are...

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CTV Winnipeg Published Tuesday, January 20, 2015 2:58PM CST Last Updated Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:10PM CST

A Manitoba woman chained herself to a bulldozer Tuesday, which she said has been used to clear marsh land to allow a hog barn operator to spread manure on the property near Zhoda in southeastern Manitoba.

The barns need to look at how they are managing manure. Instead of looking at new technologies to manage manure, they are bulldozing marsh forest to spread their manure, said Janine Gibson.

Gibson was formerly a federal Green Party candidate in the Provencher riding.

Arthur Rempel from Provista Agriculture said he was shocked to see her there and that they will be talking to Manitoba Conservation before the company goes ahead with any more work.

Work was stopped Tuesday.

He said he will be talking to Conservation Jan. 21.

A provincial spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday afternoon.

Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship is aware of concerns around the activity at this site. Environment Officers and Drainage Officers have visited the property and determined that the activity is related only to clearing brush, said the spokesperson. At this time we have identified no compliance issues, but will remain in contact with the property owners and can return if anything changes or other work is undertaken.

While current regulations do not permit the application of manure after November 10 or before April 11, if at some point in the future anyone plans to spread manure on that property they would first have to file a manure management plan with the province. That plan would have to show that there is sufficient buffer area from any watershed, said the provincial spokesperson.

Continued here:
Woman chains herself to bulldozer in protest of hog barn operator clearing marsh land

CTV Winnipeg Published Tuesday, January 20, 2015 2:58PM CST Last Updated Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:10PM CST

A Manitoba woman chained herself to a bulldozer Tuesday, which she said has been used to clear marsh land to allow a hog barn operator to spread manure on the property near Zhoda in southeastern Manitoba.

The barns need to look at how they are managing manure. Instead of looking at new technologies to manage manure, they are bulldozing marsh forest to spread their manure, said Janine Gibson.

Gibson was formerly a federal Green Party candidate in the Provencher riding.

Arthur Rempel from Provista Agriculture said he was shocked to see her there and that they will be talking to Manitoba Conservation before the company goes ahead with any more work.

Work was stopped Tuesday.

He said he will be talking to Conservation Jan. 21.

A provincial spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday afternoon.

Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship is aware of concerns around the activity at this site. Environment Officers and Drainage Officers have visited the property and determined that the activity is related only to clearing brush, said the spokesperson. At this time we have identified no compliance issues, but will remain in contact with the property owners and can return if anything changes or other work is undertaken.

While current regulations do not permit the application of manure after November 10 or before April 11, if at some point in the future anyone plans to spread manure on that property they would first have to file a manure management plan with the province. That plan would have to show that there is sufficient buffer area from any watershed, said the provincial spokesperson.

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Woman chains herself to bulldozer in protest of hog barn operator clearing marsh land to spread manure

Roma have withdrawn from the race to land Barcelona right-back Martin Montoya clearing the way for Liverpool or Arsenal to make their move.

The Premier League clubs have been heavily linked with the flying right-back, who has grown tired of his lack of game time at Barca.

The 23-year-old has started just 38 league games since breaking into the first-team picture four years ago and it has been reported that he wants to seek a fresh challenge.

AS Roma are big admirers of Montoya and wanted to tempt him to Serie A but, according to El Mundo Deportivo, they have now given up hope of signing him.

It has been suggested that the Italian club have been told that Barca will not sell him for anything less than his 16.5m release clause because of their current transfer embargo.

It remains to be seen whether or not that will put off either Arsenal or Liverpool but they will now face no competition from Roma if they firm up their interest with a bid.

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Good news for Premier League pair? Roma end interest in Barcelona defender

Interior designer Kristi Lei on Real Estate Insiders TV with Danny Poulos
Kristi Lei of Kristi Lei Interiors shares how she helps clients visualize comprehensive design and decorating projects. She also fills us in on "what #39;s hot" ...

By: Danny Poulos

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Interior designer Kristi Lei on Real Estate Insiders TV with Danny Poulos - Video

How to be your own "interior" designer.
Learn how to be your own "interior" designer with Lane Lenhart.

By: Lane Lenhart

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