Inspired by trips to Morocco and Turkey, world travelers Katharine Kathy and William P. Billy Rayner created exotically themed gardens at their North End estate and their efforts were honored Thursday by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

Their gardens won the fourth annual Lesly S. Smith Landscape Award, presented before a private dinner for the Preservation Club at foundation headquarters on Peruvian Avenue.

The Rayners joined landscaper Denis Lamarsh, who helped them with the design, in accepting the award.

Foundation Executive Director Alexander C. Ives presented a tour of the gardens via PowerPoint before the ceremony.

The Rayners home stands on a double lot between Emerald and Coral lanes. One of the gardens is Marrakesh-inspired, filled with lush plants and coconut palms sheltering a guesthouse, tented entertainment pavilion and swimming pool.

The other landscaped area takes a more refined form, inspired by symmetrical Persian gardens. The focal point is a guest pavilion with Turkish architecture facing another pool and a lawn.

Also assisting the Rayners in the multi-year project was gardener Michael Peasley.

Ives said Friday that the garden shows how elements borrowed from other cultures can be successfully incorporated into Palm Beach gardens. We can bring things back home with us to inform the design decisions we make here, he said.

The Rayners are members of the foundation.

Kathy Rayner is the daughter of Anne Cox Chambers of Cox Enterprises, the parent company of the Palm Beach Daily News.

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North End estate wins Smith Landscape Award

MINNEAPOLIS -- In a world where (Big) Ten equals six (hockey-playing members in the conference) and (Final) Five amounts to four (teams in this weekend's WCHA semifinal), nothing's quite as it appears on the surface.

With conference tournaments commencing this weekend -- two of them in the Twin Cities -- the makeover of NCAA Division I men's hockey is almost two full seasons in. Casual fans have had another year to figure out which sextet of Big Ten schools have varsity pucks programs, what teams are still in the WCHA and what NCHC stands for.

But those on the inside of #cawlidgehawkey, as SportsCenter anchor and ESPN hockey analyst John Buccigross likes to get trending on Twitter, think this could be the eye of the storm, not its outer edge.

"I don't know if the waters are ever really, truly calm," first-year WCHA commissioner Bill Robertson said. "I think there's been a settling right now for a bit, but I do see more changes arising in years to come in college hockey. I don't think this is the last shift we'll ever have, that's for sure."

That's because even with 2013's creation of the Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference, which precipitated Robertson's league losing and adding schools, another round of expansion and potential realignment looms.

There's a big, maroon-and-gold domino with a pitchfork emblazoned on its front sitting in Tempe, Ariz. With Arizona State announcing in November its intentions to shift from highly successful club hockey to the Division I ranks, a whole platter of possibilities arises.

Once the Sun Devils decide on facilities, a financial model and other various start-up initiatives, they'll need a conference. Robertson bullishly proclaimed his desire to add Arizona State to the WCHA's already-massive footprint, and the Big Ten and NCHC are possibilities, as well.

Their reasons for being interested are manifold. Arizona State's Tempe campus is the nation's largest in terms of enrollment and features an expansive alumni base. It'll boast Division I hockey's only program in the American west or southwest, where the game is growing exponentially. It's a part of the Pac-12, which has its own TV network.

And it could open the door to more programs in its neck of the woods adding Division I pucks.

"I think the bigger piece of it is it's a Power Five conference school, No. 1," said Robertson, who took over for longtime WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod last April. "No. 2, they provide the ability to get us exposure into the Southwest, into the West Coast, where there are a lot more hockey players coming.

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Unfrozen: College hockey waters never 'truly calm' as landscape ever-changing

Brian, We just wanted you to know how pleased we are with the front yard landscaping-it is absolutely beautiful! The transformation is astounding. Thanks again.Dell and Mark

Jed and Brian, I got home last night-everything looks great! Beyond the great work ethic, responsiveness and flexibility your team exhibited, we were specifically impressed with the consistent, professional and timely communication we received from you. Not once did we feel we had a reason to worry. Thanks for helping us create exactly what we wanted!Roland and Heather DuBois

Instead of looking out at our tired nondescript landscape, I now am greeted with a beautiful area with a small curved bridge, winding brick walkways, and a stone wall with lots of interesting plantings. It's like it has all been done for my pleasure...and I guess it has. Tom, thanks for your creativity, your great work and the terrific results.John Schwabacher

We greatly valued Coogan's ability to do a wide range of services and a turn-key job. We were impressed with the fact that they can handle any job without limitations and with their focus on getting it done right...they have a great reputation in Charlotte. Their designer was not afraid to address problems and was quick to come up with good solutions.Kenny and Karen Jones

Coogan's Landscape really listened to what we wanted during the design phase and then they made sure the installation met their high company standards as well as our expectations. They took the time to make sure that everything looked great and was correct before the project was complete.Robert Verrone

Coogan's Landscape was wonderful. When the pool was finished it was beyond anything we ever imagined! We love our tropical paradise!Tim and Jennifer Smith

Wow! It feels great to have this beautiful place to retreat to and it's all mine. Thank you. We are thrilled with what you've done!Valerie Jones

Bill and I were very pleased with the outcome of our entire backyard project. We chose Coogans because their landscape architect really listened to what we wanted to accomplish in our backyard. We voiced all our concerns and they were not only met, but exceeded. What was once an unusable space in the summer has become our favorite area to hang out!Maureen and Bill Bigham

Raphael and all of the gentlemen who work with you, are professional, courteous and patient. Please let them know how much I appreciate their efforts in creating the peaceful beauty I see every day from inside and outside my home.Linda Matney

Coogans ability to create the perfect outdoor living area is best in class. We completed our second project with Coogan last year. Tom is great to work with, from thinking through potential design concepts to taking the project through completion. Lawrence Faccini

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Charlotte NC Landscape Design, Custom Pools - Coogan's ...

Jamie Durie has sold his Bilgola house for $3.8 million after dropping the price.

Landscape-designer-turned-reality-host Jamie Durie has sold his Bilgola home for about $3.8 million after he dropped his initial price hopes of beating the suburb record.

Durie built the dramatic residence as a collaboration with the designer and architect Walter Barda, and features luxury add-ons such as a sauna, gym, yoga room, pool and rooftop deck. Durie had also included his signature vertical and suspended gardens.

Having bought the 614-square-metre property in 2003 for $1.3 million, Durie listed it last September with initial hopes of topping the suburb's non-beachfront record of $4.4 million set in 2013 for a house on Bilgola Avenue.

Before the property was sold the listing agents Ken Jacobs, of Christie's International, and Bill Eames, of LJ Hooker Avalon, dropped the asking price to $3.75 million-plus. Neither agent would disclose the sale result, leaving it to a source to reveal the result.

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Durie offloaded the house because of his growing commitments in the United States, where his new series Outback Nation starts next month.

The sale coincides with a price adjustment on another Bilgola property, the Iain Halliday-redesigned Stone House, owned by liquidator Ian Ferrier and Joanne May who first listed it in November also with hopes of topping the $4.4 million suburb record.

The landscape-designer-turned-reality-host has growing commitments in the US. Photo: Supplied

The 1927-built sandstone house was bought by Ferrier and May, the mother of hotelier Ben May, in 2001 for $2.1 million, and the adjoining 1200 square metres added the following year for $725,000.

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Jamie Durie sells Bilgola house for $3.8 million

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AP) Relief workers saw a flattened landscape and widespread destruction in their first views of Vanuatu's outer islands Tuesday after struggling for days to assess the areas of the South Pacific nation hardest hit by a fierce cyclone.

Radio and telephone communications with the outer islands were just beginning to be restored, but remained incredibly patchy three days after Cyclone Pam hit. People were expressing their need for help any way they could: flashing mirrors or marking an "H'' in white on the ground to signal planes that were surveying the outer islands.

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Cyclone flattened the landscape in Vanuatu's outer islands

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Despite there being no change in government on the agenda, China's routine March meetings -- dubbed the "two sessions" -- are set to be closely watched as the country's political and economic dynamics are changing significantly.

Attention will be focused on China next week as lawmakers and political advisors attend the annual full sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.

The two sessions are held to discuss political and economic developments, and adopt policies to deliver the reform promises and economic growth targets set by the Chinese authorities.

Over the years, the sessions have helped navigate the development of China, which is not only very important to the country itself, but also matters much to the world.

FOUR COMPREHENSIVES

Since Wednesday, the Communist Party of China mouthpiece the People's Daily has been running a series of editorials to elaborate on and promote President Xi Jinping's new political theory ahead of the two sessions.

The theory, called the "Four Comprehensives", refers to "comprehensively" building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing rule of law and strictly governing the Party.

The four aspects are strategic objectives outlined in Xi's blueprint for China's future. Analysts believe the two sessions will provide an ideal occasion to discuss the new theory and help pool strength to implement it.

Ding Yuanzhu, of the Chinese Academy of Governance, expects extensive discussion among lawmakers and political advisors, saying that the Four Comprehensives theory focuses on the four key issues in China's modernization drive.

Kuang Xianming, director of the research center for economy under the China Institute for Reform and Development, said the importance of this year's two sessions could be associated with the expected role of the year 2015 in China's development history.

Link:
"Two sessions" anticipated amid new political, economic landscape

Like many people who went through the Las Cruces Home Builders' Association Home & Garden Show last weekend, I caught the bug to remodel my home. I admit it. It turns out that one of the best home-remodeling projects in terms of return on investment is landscaping.

John Harris, a landscape economist who has worked in environmental, landscape and horticultural fields for more than 30 years, says good landscaping can add up to 28 percent to the overall value of a house.

According to a story in Money magazine, a landscaping project can have a recovery value of 100-200 percent if done well. The same story reported recovery values of 75-125 percent for a kitchen remodel, 80-120 percent for a bathroom and 20-50 percent for a swimming pool. Even the Appraisal Institute, the nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers, agrees that landscaping can significantly affect property values. When done right, it can add significant value to a home. When landscaping is done poorly, or is neglected, it can take away value.

But wait! I'm not intending to sell my house any time soon. I want to enhance the enjoyment and liveability of our home, and I've chosen landscaping as a home-enhancement project that offers a high impact for a relatively low investment.

Understanding that every worthwhile project begins with great design, I consulted with Landscape Designer Debra Sands-Miller. After many questions about how we use our outdoor space and what colors, styles and textures we like she developed a beautifully detailed diagram of our yard with plant lists and design elements to complement what we already have. I'm now ready to get started with my landscaping remodel project.

My landscape designer has helped me to really understand the benefits of good landscaping. She has helped me to see how much beauty, color and life can be added to our home through well-chosen plants and arrangements. Beautiful landscaping entices us to spend more time outdoors enjoying our great climate. It reduces stress and makes us feel better.

But wait! There's more. Well-designed landscaping makes our homes greener, not just in the literal sense. Proper landscaping can actually help keep our homes cooler, reduce energy costs by as much as 25 percent and help conserve water. Here's how.

Heat from the sun is absorbed through windows, walls and roofs, making our homes difficult to cool in the summer. Well-placed trees and shrubs provide shade to help keep a home cool in the summer. Trees also release water vapor that cools the surrounding air temperatures. Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25 degrees cooler than air temperatures above nearby pavement.

Trees planted to the west of the home are great for shading western-facing windows, doors, and patios from the intense afternoon sun. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, just three properly placed trees could save you between $100 and $250 a year in energy costs.

Shrubs and ground cover shade the ground and pavement, reducing heat radiation and cooling the air around the home.

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Home Green: Proper landscaping adds value to your home

"THE POOL MASTER," ANTHONY ARCHER-WILLS, RETURNS TO ANIMAL PLANET FOR AN ALL-NEW SEASON OF AQUATIC AMAZEMENT

-- Anthony Archer-Wills Vision Transforms Bland Spaces into Natural Wonderments In Six-episode Season Beginning Friday, April 3, at 10 PM ET/PT -

(Silver Spring, Md.) - Is it easy to tell the difference between what's natural and man-made? With Animal Planet's THE POOL MASTER, you hardly can. The pools may seem like they were placed on Earth by Mother Nature herself, but really, they were forged by a man with a smile on his face and a gin in his hand - pool master extraordinaire Anthony Archer-Wills, to be specific!

Beginning Friday, April 3, at 10 PM ET/PT, Anthony returns with a splash for a six-episode season of THE POOL MASTER. Alongside this charismatic British landscape visionary are his talented site manager Dave Duensing and master excavator Ed Kading. Watch this trio transform backyard dreams into natural masterpieces.

This season, Anthony and his team meet new clients with this concept in mind: to turn their run-of-the-mill backyards into jaw-dropping natural pool paradises, which exude utter tranquility, charm and artistry - that is if Anthony's ideas don't go over budget. Each episode depicts the constant battle between Anthony and his designs. Do his wild ideas trample the limits set by his clientele, or do the grand finales render them speechless?

No design is ever the same, and between bad weather, buried rock slabs or unmarked pipes, no build is ever easy either. In addition, Anthony always incorporates surrounding natural resources - he unearths local rocks, plants and shrubs and then reuses them in his final designs to create the illusion that these pools have always been there. Of course, Dave and Ed need to be careful as Anthony is easily distracted and can get lost to an offer of afternoon tea and scones or a boat ride. But they always find a way to finish the job, and with gin and tonic in hand, the team takes a step back and admire the fruits of labor - pools that co-exist harmoniously with nature and surpass the clients' wildest expectations.

Dreams become reality during this season of THE POOL MASTER with the following pools:

Going, Going, Gong!: Anthony and his team rip out a boring backyard and replace it with a Japanese water garden paradise. Complete with a mountain hot tub, multiple waterfalls, a gong and rocks that blow fire, it's a dream come true for everyone!

You can take the girl out of England: Anthony and his team create a British-inspired heavenly escape for a Texas family. The design includes a pool big enough for friends and family, a "teazebo" for afternoon tea and an elephant-sized surprise behind the family's once-fenced-in garden.

This is not a fire drill: Out on the arid hills of Northern California, a fireman's family needs to be rescued, and Anthony comes calling! Anthony not only fixes the home owner's amateur attempt at building a pool himself, he also prepares the family for the worst by linking the new and improves pool to a hydrant system, providing an added level of fire safety.

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"The Pool Master," Anthony Archer-Wills, Returns to Animal Planet for an All-New Season of Aquatic Amazement

New projects to change KK's landscape

They include The Loft apartments and Imago shopping mall, Riverson Suites and Gleneagles private hospital, and the Oceanus shopping mall and Pelagos Suites.

"In particular, Jesselton Quay by SBC Corp Bhd and Mah Sing Group's Kota Kinabalu Convention City are paving the way for the regeneration of the old Jesselton port area which will also be home to an international cruise terminal and international convention centre," says Knight Frank, a leading independent global property consultancy headquartered in London.

"Both developments are of mixed use in nature and will comprise a combination of retail, office, residential properties and hotels," it says.

"Major mixed use developments such as Aeropod Tanjung Aru (by SP Setia), Sutera Avenue and PacifiCity are continuing to progress through construction and the release of new phases are being received well by the market as evident from the favourable take-up rates," it says.

"There were not many residential launches in 2014 but there are a few that are worth eyeing," says a property observer.

Among them are the Harrington Suites, by Interland Properties Sdn Bhd, Jesselton View by Bina Puri Holdings Bhd and Sutera Avenue Residences by Mah Sing group, incidentally the same properties that Knight Frank highlighted.

Harringston Suites has 116 units in five layouts sized from 2,445 sq ft to 3,455 sq ft and are priced from RM1.8 mil to RM2.9 mil.

Jesselton View is a low-density apartment development with only 80 units housed in five-storey and 11-storey blocks. The size ranges from 809 sq ft to 2,922 sq ft and are priced from RM522,000 to RM2.08 mil.

Priced from RM605,000 onwards, Sutera Avenue Residences comprises 320 units of serviced apartments in three towers, with built-up areas ranging from 726 sq ft to 1,220 sq ft.

See the original post:
New projects to change KK's landscape

Raise the roof

Property: Broxham Oast Four Elms Road, Four Elms, Edenbridge,

Description: Charming and substantial Oast house and barn sympathetically converted. Has character features such as high ceilings and a wealth of oak and English hardwood joinery, handcrafted Oak and English hardwood architraves. Five bedrooms, music room, study/hobby room, 8.2 acres.

Price: 1.795 million

Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01883 338515

Round a roundel

Property: Kings Oast, Laddingford

Description: In a semi-rural location between Laddingford and Yalding, it is an impressive conversion with five roundels.

Over three floors, the property has exposed ceiling timbers, wooden flooring, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, thumb latch doors and a striking imperial staircase rising to all floors. Six bedrooms with en suite bath/shower rooms. Cinema room, detached pool house with heated swimming pool and gym, orchard and paddock. 2.44 acres.

Price: 1.75 million

Read more:
Kent and Sussex Courier published Pictures: Oast houses for sale in west Kent and East Sussex