Illustration: Kerrie Leishman.

The Sydney Botanic Gardens and Domain, while a gift from governors Phillip and Macquarie to the people of Sydney, is of its essence, a gift of nature.

Its attractive deep cove, with its two long tongues of green reaching down to the harbour at Bennelong Point and at Mrs Macquaries Chair, is essentially the landform shaped down the aeons. It is broadly as it was before European settlement. That is what is so wonderful about it a place defined by naturalism. But even more than that, a garden space made richer by its developed horticultural heritage.

The Sydney Botanic Gardens is one of the great gardens of its kind in the world. We therefore have a duty of care to maintain and protect it.

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The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trusthas outlined a plan which fundamentally commercialises this historic garden place. The plan seeks to give the gardens a railway station, a ferry wharf, a hotel, a permanent sound stage and, as inappropriate as these things are, worse than that, three clumsily placed buildings. According to the draft plan, a 100- to 200-seat cafe and function places in each of the very points that the two green tongues touch the harbour Bennelong Point at the foot of the Opera House and Mrs Macquaries Chair and a separate extension of the Art Gallery of NSW jumping the expressway to land in the gardens themselves.

Jorn Utzonset his Opera House and the steps to its podium against the immediate rolling green hill rising from the Man OWar steps reaching to Government House. It is a poetic picture of nature juxtaposed with major architecture. Where that rolling hill meets Utzons steps, the gardens trust wants to erect a building. And a big one. The insensitivity of it is breathtaking. And to what purpose? The draft plan tells us "an orientation centre, associated retail, 200-seat cafe, 100-seat outdoor dining area and public toilets". In other words a mini-mall.

But not happy with that detraction against the site, the trust seeks to repeat it at Mrs Macquaries Point. Here, on what is probably Sydneys most natural and sacred site, with panoramic views from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to Bradleys Head, the trust intends to construct another building. And that building, according to the draft plan, is another cafe, retail and function space with a terrace under a glass canopy. In other words, a blot on the landscape. But in this case, the most sensitive bit of landscape in the city.

One can only imagine the growth in the tourist bus traffic that will tear Mrs Macquaries Point to pieces as tourism operators pour their clients into the cafe and function space. These tourism operators want to sell the nature that Sydney offers while reserving the right to trash it wherever they think they can make a faster and more convenient buck.

One can understand the greedy and crass tourism industry wanting to build these things, but having them done at the behest of the gardens trust the supposed trustee of this natural domain is what is truly disturbing.

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A blot on Sydney's landscape

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington (CNN) -- Washington is entering a new era of kamikaze governance, this time with Democrats at the helm.

Thursday night's spending showdown saw progressive Democrats unexpectedly emerge as the agitators ready to drive the nation off a cliff to win concessions and progressives say it will happen again.

"The fight last night was a shot across the bow that progressives are ready to stand and fight, and there are millions of Americans ready to jump into the fray," Ben Wikler, Washington director for MoveOn.org, a progressive group, said on Sunday.

Progressive members of the Democratic Party are gearing up for what they expect to be many battles needed to defend their values as Republicans seek to chip away at a variety of Democratic priorities when they take control of Congress next year.

A prime example of such skirmishes came last week. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren objected to a GOP provision -- attached to a broad spending bill -- that rolled back a key portion of the Wall Street reform law. Her opposition prompted dozens of Democrats to defect and triggered a last-minute scramble for support; President Barack Obama himself made calls to win lawmakers back and stave off a potential government shutdown.

The spending bill eventually passed the Senate on Saturday night and on Sunday, Democratic leaders downplayed a possible rift within the party.

READ: Top Dems deny there's a party rift

But the nearly 2,000 progressive activists and operatives who descended on Washington over the weekend for the annual Rootscamp gathering felt otherwise.

Panels addressed things like #HillaryProblems and the lack of understanding between the grassroots and establishment wings of the Democratic Party. And panelists and attendees alike endorsed the newly antagonistic moves from their elected officials this week.

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Progressives prepare for Hill battle

Washington is entering a new era of kamikaze governance, this time with Democrats at the helm.

Thursday night's spending showdown saw progressive Democrats unexpectedly emerge as the agitators ready to drive the nation off a cliff to win concessions --- and progressives say it will happen again.

"The fight last night was a shot across the bow that progressives are ready to stand and fight, and there are millions of Americans ready to jump into the fray," Ben Wikler, Washington director for MoveOn.org, a progressive group, said on Sunday.

Progressive members of the Democratic Party are gearing up for what they expect to be many battles needed to defend their values as Republicans seek to chip away at a variety of Democratic priorities when they take control of Congress next year.

A prime example of such skirmishes came last week. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren objected to a GOP provision -- attached to a broad spending bill -- that rolled back a key portion of the Wall Street reform law. Her opposition prompted dozens of Democrats to defect and triggered a last-minute scramble for support; President Barack Obama himself made calls to win lawmakers back and stave off a potential government shutdown.

The spending bill eventually passed the Senate on Saturday night and on Sunday, Democratic leaders downplayed a possible rift within the party.

But the nearly 2,000 progressive activists and operatives who descended on Washington over the weekend for the annual Rootscamp gathering felt otherwise.

Panels addressed things like #HillaryProblems and the lack of understanding between the grassroots and establishment wings of the Democratic Party. And panelists and attendees alike endorsed the newly antagonistic moves from their elected officials this week.

"How do we make change in general, as we're seeing from the streets of DC to Ferguson to New York? I do think that sometimes you have to shut it down," said Alana Krivo-Kaufman, a 27-year-old Rootscamp attendee and an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace.

And with Republicans taking control of the Senate next month, the imperative for progressives to hold their ground on key issues could grow ever more urgent.

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Progressives gird for Capitol Hill battle

MacGillycuddys Reeks: Mountains are part of a pilot scheme that shows way forward for an effective shared community management of landscape. Photograph: Nathan Kingerlee/Outdoors Ireland

The report by the Irish Uplands Forum recommends a small amount of seed funding and a large dose of moral support to develop projects similar to those already piloted in Kerrys MacGillycuddys Reeks and at Mount Gable in Co Galway.

The report by the voluntary group was presented to Minister of State for Rural Development Ann Phelan to mark United Nations International Mountain Day.

Naturalists, ecologists, outdoor education interests, local authorities, rural recreational officers, farm and forestry advisers and rural and agricultural policymakers were also involved, according to forum chair and mountaineer Frank Nugent.

The conference agreed on a Dungarvan Declaration, which refers to the vital benefits to society, such as water supplies and biodiversity of a landscape maintained by generations of hill-farmers.

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Mountain landscape management requires community approach

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - On June 30, 2013, a tragedy of the worst kind struck the family members and friends of 19 firefighters.

Those Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. Healing has been difficult for those who knew the heroes, but now there's a little help.

"It's very difficult; we miss him every day, and it just feels like an empty spot in our home and in our hearts," said Michelle Parker.

Michelle's heart is always filled with memories of her son Wade. Wade was a firefighter with the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew who lost his life fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.

"One of the biggest things for Wade was family," said Dan Parker, Wade's dad.

Wednesday morning was emotional for Dan and Michelle because they left for a nine-day cruise across Europe. They will visit Germany, Austria, and Slovakia. It's a free trip provided to the families of the Yarnell 19 by Vantage Deluxe World Travel.

Juliann Ashcraft, who lost her husband Andrew also went and said the decision to make the trip was difficult.

"I just remember feeling a little concerned if we wanted to do something that felt like it's a pleasure, and such a reward while going through a lot of that was hard," said Juliann Ashcraft.

A total of 19 family members and friends of the fallen firefighters embarked on the journey.

"It'll be nice to be with the others as well, and just enjoy some time with them too," said Michelle.

Link:
Families of Granite Mountain Hotshots set sail

I was born on the West Side of the state and grew up playing in the forests and on Puget Sound around Shelton. We found our way to the dry side of the state in 1976 following a job. So its safe to say I am a dyed-in-the-wool Northwesterner. The moss on my back and webs between my toes merely rehydrate in therain.

However, I am now learning about the weather, topography and plants of another place in this great country central Texas. The reason is simple: If I expect to help my daughter and son-in-law learn to

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Hamilton Pool is a collapsed cave in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. It was warm enough Thanksgiving weekend forswimming. (Full-size photo)

I was born on the West Side of the state and grew up playing in the forests and on Puget Sound around Shelton. We found our way to the dry side of the state in 1976 following a job. So its safe to say I am a dyed-in-the-wool Northwesterner. The moss on my back and webs between my toes merely rehydrate in therain.

However, I am now learning about the weather, topography and plants of another place in this great country central Texas. The reason is simple: If I expect to help my daughter and son-in-law learn to garden long distance, I am going to have learn about humidity, heat, fire ants and plants Ive never heard of. The kids moved to Round Rock, Texas, just north of Austin in June 2013 and quickly became homeowners. Their landscape has one tree, one crepe myrtle bush, a bed of perennials and a buffalo grass lawn. They built a vegetable garden box late last spring and promptly learned you dont grow much in the heat of June throughAugust.

Their first challenge after buying the house which had been empty for two years was to get rid of the fire ants that had taken up residence in the yard and were moving into the house. I was no help in that department. After trying to deal with them organically and failing, my daughter resorted to the heavy-duty stuff and they can now work in the yard with only minimalproblems.

In June we made a quick trip down and started making the rounds of the nurseries to find a crepe myrtle, a large shrub with billows of pink, red and white flowers. I quickly learned there are a number of cultivars that grow in several sizes making them fairly versatile. As to how to prune, fertilize and deal with bugs, Ill have to leave my daughter in the hands of the Williamson County MasterGardeners.

It was hard to resist diving in and planning new beds for their yard. But I behaved myself and put my hands in my pockets. I have to remember that not only do I not know what Im doing in Texas, but the gardening styles of 20- to 30-somethings are completely different frommine.

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Texas landscape sharp contrast to Northwest - Thu, 11 Dec 2014 PST

11:50 26 January 2006

The blot on the landscape

THE best-known skyline in Hitchin could be changed forever by a housing development. It has been suggested that a developer is about to apply for planning permission to build seven town houses on top of Windmill Hill. Two scaffold towers have been erected

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THE best-known skyline in Hitchin could be changed forever by a housing development.

It has been suggested that a developer is about to apply for planning permission to build seven town houses on top of Windmill Hill. Two scaffold towers have been erected on the site.

Norman Hyde, who lives on the hill, said a development of that size would "devastate" the landmark.

Retired architect and planner Mr Hyde also expressed concern that the development could only be reached by a narrow lane and that there was inadequate sewerage available.

Currently there is planning permission to extend an existing house on the hill, Woodside, and to build another house near it.

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Blot on the landscape

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Untitled (Red and Yellow Cliffs) by Georgia OKeeffe captures the geology and colors of the Ghost Ranch area. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

Red Hills and White Flower is a pastel on paper-covered board by Georgia OKeeffe. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

Rams Head, Blue Morning Glory is in the Ghost Ranch Views exhibition at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

Pelvis IV was done by Georgia OKeeffe in 1944. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

Geralds Tree 1 is an oil on canvas by Georgia OKeeffe. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

In this photograph by Maria Chabot, artist Georgia OKeeffe is shown on the roof of the Ghost Ranch house. (Courtesy of the Georgia OKeeffe Museum)

SANTA FE To put paint to canvas, Georgia OKeeffe only had to look out her window.

Ghost Ranch Views showcases the results at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum through March 22.

Abounding in landscapes of the cliffs and mesas surrounding her, the paintings reveal OKeeffes steady exploration of abstraction, always based firmly in nature. Compositions viewed through the lens of a hip joint hang near images of the towering cliffs she simplified with undulating lines and delicately blended pinks, corals and yellows.

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Ghost Ranch exhibit highlights the landscape Georgia OKeeffe called home

HANNA, Alta. - Southern Alberta will soon be sporting a brand new provincial park named Antelope Hill thanks to a generous donation from a retired farmer near Hanna.

Gottlob Schmidt, 90, has lived in the area for more than 80 years and donated his homestead to Alberta Parks.

Tim Chamberlin with Environment and Sustainable Resource Development says the donation has been in the works for awhile.

Chamberlin says the landscape is just beautiful and is a terrific gift from a wonderful Albertan.

He adds the planning stages are just getting started, but doesnt anticipate a large cost to getting the new park ready for the public.

The area of the park is home to rare native grasslands, aspen groves, wetlands as well as a variety of wildlife.

Once Antelope Hill opens to the public, the park will be used for low-impact recreation, such as hiking and will not permit hunting, camping or vehicle use at Schmidt's request.

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Antelope Hill Provincial Park Land Donated By Alberta Farmer (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Put on your walking shoes to help New Haven figure out how to make the changing landscape of the West River, Hill and Dwight neighborhoods more walkable.

City and civic officials have organized a walk through those neighborhoodsparticularly where they meet around Route 34for Monday night. Everyones involved. The event will include light refreshments as well as a brainstorming session.

See the above flyer for details.

The Harp Administration has promised to take neighbors concernsabout walkability and bikability and new urbanist design preferencesas it decides the fate of the remainder of the 16.2-acre median strip being redeveloped dividing Legion Avenue and MLK Boulevard between Ella Grasso Boulevard and Dwight Street. Monday nights walk is part of that process.

Bring your flashlights and wear light-colored clothing!

Suburban rush hour drivers are usually in a mood to kill, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.

Again more for the bikers.How about this.I plan on getting one of these.Can the city make lanes for this.

AMISH BUGGY

Anderson Scooper - very good advice, but the city has its share of homicidal maniac drivers!

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Take An (Urban) Hike