(PRWEB) January 26, 2015

Southview Design won two awards for Excellence in Landscape Design from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) this month.

Southview Design landscape designer Tim Johnson won the award for the swimming pool landscape design he created for a Vadnais Heights couple; landscape designer Colleen Moran won the award for her suburban backyard design for an Edina family.

Adjacent to natural wetlands, the Vadnais Heights backyard had serious drainage issues. The homeowners pool wasnt installed correctly, causing groundwater to seep into the pool. Runoff from the owners house and the neighbors yard created puddles in the backyard, rendering it nearly unusable.

Southviews first order of business was to turn a soggy backyard into a livable area. They re-graded the yard and installed drain tile to redirect the runoff. Building a concrete base and decorative drain tile in the pool deck also helped solve the drainage issue. Finally, Southview put in a drip irrigation system with multiple drip areas that redirects water to the gardens.

Johnsons design also included creating an outdoor living room under the deck. Bluestone pavers accent the living space under the deck and line the pool deck, while an outdoor lighting system provides ambiance. Colorful perennial gardens and mature trees line the outer edge of the property, which is accented with boulders.

While the Vadnais Heights couple had rarely ventured beyond their deck, they are now enjoying their new backyard, swimming in the lap pool in the summer and soaking in the hot tub in the winter. Their new favorite pastime is relaxing in the new outdoor living room space overlooking the pool, gardens and wetlands, teeming with wildlife.

For photos of the award-winning Vadnais Heights backyard design, visit: http://southviewdesign.com/landscape-designs/award-winners/suburban-pool-landscape.html.

The Edina property offers views and access to Lake Cornelia. Although the home was on a higher elevation the drop from the sliding glass doors to the ground is about eight feet the one stipulation was that they didnt want a deck. This required thinking outside the box, said Moran.

Morans design combined tiered paver patios and a modular block retaining wall, built to fit the scale of the home. The tiered walls were sized and constructed to create livable spaces, including a dining area, fire pit, and areas for plants and flowers.

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Southview Design Wins Two MNLA Awards for Landscape Design

The Thames Baths swimming pool would offer 25 metres of swimming in the middle of the river Thames in London.

Image: Studio Octopi & Picture Plane

By Tim ChesterUK2015-01-26 12:41:18 UTC

LONDON Berlin's got one. New York is set to get one. Now, it looks like London could get one too.

Plans are afoot to launch a crowd-funding campaign for an open-air swimming pool in the middle of the river Thames.

The Thames Baths project would see a 10 million pool, measuring 25 metres by 10 metres, with a full filtration system and pool-side decking, plonked in the murky waters by the Victoria Embankment, the Guardian reports.

The pool project has been conceived by architects Studio Octopi and Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects as well as other studios and construction companies, and is backed by Tracey Emin and The Outdoor Swimming society among others.

It aims to offer an alternative to the hot, chlorine-infused experience of an indoor pool and will likely charge between 4 and 6 for a dip. Beds of reeds and a glass barrier will keep river water away from the pool water, which will be "as clean as anything you would find in a mountain lake" according to Tim Evans from another firm on the project Gartenart.

An artist's impression of the swimming pool in the Thames.

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The river Thames could be getting an open-air swimming pool

Repairs of the high schools tennis courts get the go-ahead.

With some residents calling them the worst tennis courts in Orange County, plans were given the go-ahead this past Tuesday to refurbish rather than upgrade the Park Avenue courts across from Laguna Beach High School. The decision will cost $620,000 and was made at a joint meeting between the Laguna Beach City Council and Laguna Beach Unified School District board.

Resolving a year of disagreements, the courts will be repaired rather than equipped with post-tensioned slabs that prevent cracking, and the city and the district will split costs 70-30 as previously negotiated. Repairs at the community pool, which is adjacent to the courts and also used by high-school students, were also agreed upon.

Instead of upgrading the tennis courts with a longer-lasting post-tensioned apparatus triggering requirements that tripled projected costs the city proposed to sandblast, replace cracked concrete, patch, level and resurface with a premium sealer. The sealer, according to the city report, will reduce cracking and water seepage. The council unanimously approved the plan while the school board will officially vote on both improvement projects at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The city and the school district considered post-tensioned construction a year ago. Total costs escalated to $1.36 million because the post-tensioned project is considered new construction and triggered costly requirements to reconfigure access for the disabled and a review by the Division of the State Architect.

The city balked at paying for the more expensive upgrade pushed by the district. Last week, the stalemate was resolved with face-to-face talks. School board members agreed to jettison plans for post-tensioned slabs following a presentation of a city soils report showing no conditions at the courts warranted the stabilizing post-tensioned slabs.

Bids on post-tensioned courts, considered higher quality with greater longevity, were sought at the request of members of the public, board member Jan Vickers explained. No one anticipated costs would triple due to unexpected new construction requirements, she said.

We, as a city, have the worst tennis courts in all of Orange County, said resident Tiana Hamilton, whose children played tennis in competitions at other schools in the county. I dont think thats anything to be proud of. Hamilton and her husband Paul urged the two governing boards to choose quality. Resident Howard Hills admonished the school district for never comparing the high school courts to the quality of courts at schools in other cities.

The school board should have known what the situation was on the courts, under the courts and around the courts when they did the reconstruction of our facilities, Hills said, referring to a $39-million bond measure approved by the community in 2001 to modernize district buildings. This represents gross negligence that this wasnt done.

Besides resurfacing playing surfaces, the improvements will also include new LED lighting, refurbished lighting standards, upgraded fencing, windscreens and nets, and a new drinking fountain and viewing benches. Esthetically, it will be a beautiful facility, said Ben Siegel, the citys director of community services, following his report at the meeting.

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Tennis Courts, Pool Improvements Get Go-Ahead

In the late 1950s and early '60s, Nebraska reintroduced wild turkeys from other states to its landscape after the big birds had been wiped out decades earlier during the nations westward expansion.

The reintroduction was so successful that turkeys have again become common border-to-border, and Nebraska is now able to pay the favor forward to another state.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission led an effort this week to trap wild turkeys on a ranch near Whiteclay in northern Sheridan County for relocation to Montana.

The turkeys were held overnight Thursday and picked up by Montana state wildlife staff Friday morning for release in the Great Falls area.

A total of 91 birds were caught, including 13 males or toms, the commission said in a news release.

Game and Parks employees lured the birds to three roughly 400-square-foot netted enclosures and closed each door with the pull of a cord. A cadre of volunteers, largely consisting of Chadron State College students, then helped them process the birds.

Each turkey was checked by a veterinarian and placed in a cardboard box provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation. The boxes of birds were stored in a livestock trailer until the journey west.

Although they can be tricky to catch in the enclosure, the birds usually become rather docile once caught, said Todd Nordeen, the commission's big game research manager who led the relocation effort.

Nebraska has used wildlife from other states for reintroduction efforts within its borders, including bighorn sheep that were captured in Montana and brought to Nebraska.

Nordeen said Montanas state wildlife division is seeking turkeys with characteristics of the Merriams subspecies. The distinct wide white band found across the tail feathers of those birds is predominant among northwestern Nebraskas turkey population.

See the article here:
Nearly 100 Nebraska wild turkeys head to Montana

The new dark pool for fund managers announced by Fidelity Investments and others is the latest attempt to bring transparency to part of the market seen as cloaked in secrecy.

Fidelity, BlackRock Inc. (BLK) and seven other asset managers unveiled Luminex, an industry-owned dark pool where they say the biggest investors will know the rules and be kept free of interference from speculators. The venture follows a year in which the reputations of private electronic equity venues suffered as regulators uncovered evidence of deception.

While ambitious, the model described by the fund companies bears resemblances to venues already in operation, in particular one run by Liquidnet Holdings Inc. That platform, opened in 2001 by Seth Merrin and serving about 760 fund companies in 43 markets worldwide, ranked 20th among the biggest American dark pools by volume, according to the latest data.

It would be wonderful if everybody put all their eggs in the Liquidnet basket, Merrin said in a telephone interview today. We look at this as them throwing their hands up in the air and saying, Were fed up with this market structure, Were fed up with the shenanigans.

(Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, owns a stake in Bids Trading LP, which operates a dark pool geared toward block trading.)

At Merrins Liquidnet, the average size of trades is more than 40,000 shares, about 200 times greater than those found on most venues. The platform has found a niche as a crossing network where the biggest investors wait for counterparties to show up with orders that match theirs.

That model stands in contrast to most of the U.S. equity landscape, where market makers intermediate trades between investors who want to do business right away. Liquidnet did just over 22 million shares in the week of Dec. 29, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The two biggest dark pools, both run by brokerages, did almost 10 times that.

The Finra figures only include trading of the biggest U.S. stocks.

Theres always room for intermediation because most stocks are not going to find their natural other side, Merrin said. What they are saying is that the regulations and current solutions out there are not doing enough to help their specific business.

IEX Group Inc., made famous by Michael Lewiss Flash Boys book, is owned by a consortium including hedge funds and mutual funds. It opened for business on Oct. 25, 2013, and its share of total U.S. equity trading hit 1 percent in November.

Excerpt from:
Fund Firm Dark Pool Seeks Transparency in Opaque Corner

Booking a space on a guided wildlife safari is the way most visitors experience Africa. But theres another option few travelers know about that offers a more exclusive way to see the continent.

One can reserve their own luxury home deep in the African wilderness with an attentive staff at your beck and call offering the freedom to explore the countryside at leisure. These luxury estates, handpicked by African Safari Company, an agency that specializes in small group travel and custom safaris, are a perfect getaway for those looking for a unique travel experience off the typical path.

Set amidst two rolling mountain ranges, Tarkuni is the Oppenheimer familys own personal home at Tswalu Kalahari, the ultimate private sanctuary. Recently redesigned to uncompromising standards of comfort and elegance, Tarkuni is an exceptional choice for families or groups of friends. Its five luxurious suites, each with a magnificent en-suite bathroom, accommodate a maximum of 10 guests. The home has its own dedicated team including a host and private chef to ensure a completely personal service. A private vehicle, personal field guide and tracker ensure an equally bespoke safari experience.

Tarkuni creates an oasis of serenity in the desert. Its quiet pool and shady salas offer calm and contemplation. Its own traditional boma (fenced enclosure) has seen many star-lit celebrations. And its beguiling charm has led many guests to return time and again to what has become their second home in the Kalahari.

Villa Saebin, set against Signal Hill in the suburban Tamboerskloof neighborhood, takes full advantage of the views of Table Mountain, Lions Head, the Stellenbosch Mountains, and the Durbanville Hills. The vertical spread of five levels has a private study at the entrance level (with a garage underneath) and three guest bedrooms on the level above. The living area on the fourth level includes open-plan living and dining areas, a sleek kitchen with Miele appliances, a yoga room, and a terrace with an L-shaped pool.

Nights are dreamy in the fifth-level master suite with a roof garden and terrace. Artworks from around the worlda mix of pieces highlighting contemporary African and Asia-Pacific influencesaccent the villa. Villa Saebin, which was completed in early 2014, comes with Wi-Fi, a home-entertainment system, and housekeeping service four days per week.

Zambia's Lower Zambezi is renowned throughout Africa for its magnificent herds of wild elephant, exceptional predator viewing and of course the Zambezi River. It's also home to one of the continents most spectacular and unique private homes. Chongwe River House sleeps eight in four spacious ensuite bedrooms, making an ideal safari base for a family or a group of friends wanting a private safari.

Chongwe River House stands on the banks of the Chongwe River, close to the Zambezi, and with a sensational view of the dramatic mountainous escarpment beyond. Many animals come to the Chongwe River to drink and from the deck the game viewing can be as good as any safari activity. The property comes fully staffed with Chongwes resident head guide Matt Porter, house managers Scott Simpson and Kim Bailey, private chefs and a full complement of support staff all of whom are masters at tailoring private safaris.

Kiba Point is an incredible private camp in the Selous; a totally exclusive retreat in the heart of one of the most game-rich areas of Tanzania. Kiba Point has just 4 sleeping rooms, raised and entirely open at the front, to take advantage of the river views. The thrill of sleeping in such proximity to nature, while completely safe from animal intruders, makes Kiba a special and unique experience. Bathrooms are bush deluxe, with flush toilets, indoor and outdoor showers and hot and cold water upon request.

At Kiba Point, each room has its own plunge pool set into the edge of the deck, and there is also a large house pool where you can sink into comfortable sofas and chairs for an afternoon of general laziness. Kiba Point has its own small team of guides and staff, all of whom can help plan outings and activities. Head out every day either on foot, by boat or by vehicle - as you want and when you want.

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Private African homes

Pacheco Residence - Desert Springs Group
Landscape Pool Design by Desert Springs Group Custom Landscape, Pool, BBQ and patio cover.

By: Inked Xteriors

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Pacheco Residence - Desert Springs Group - Video

Adriatic beauty spot has reinvented itself as a five-star holiday destination for super wealthy yacht owners In Tivat, the 287 million Euro Porto Montenegro, 80-foot megayachts moor for up to 40,000 per year But there is plenty for everyone with four national parks, peaceful lakes, glorious beaches and a fascinating history

By Emily Payne for MailOnline

Published: 09:16 EST, 15 January 2015 | Updated: 12:13 EST, 15 January 2015

For Radovan Peric and his family, real life is in the mountain, with their forty goats.

'This is the way my ancestors lived, it's my fate,' he tells me, liberally sloshing more home-distilled grappa into shot glasses.

In the thirty years he has lived with his wife, and later his daughters and granddaughter, in this simple home perched on the hillside above the Kotor old town and the bow-tie shaped southern part of the bay, he has seen cataclysmic change, the landscape pushed and pulled by tradition versus progression.

Once, communist-owned factories chugged below; now, ecology is thriving, Peric grows all his own food and only descends for beer, coffee and sugar.

A view over Kotor Bay from the home of Radovan Peric and his family, who live the simple life away from the modernisation of Montenegro

Apart from the odd horror during the Eurovision Song Contest I knew little about Montenegro, except that it sounded green, but somehow moody and grey, in the shadow of huge mountains and of course, that lots of millionaires live there.

Now, daring to dip a toe into the world of multi-generational holiday, I'm here with my mother, and I see that I was right. But of course, that's just the tip of the post-soviet iceberg.

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Megayachts, millionaires and mourning Tito: How Montenegro embraces luxury holiday industry while celebrating a ...

Part 1 of 2

Before the start of every high school football season, Stacy Robinson goes through a familiar routine.

The head coach at Union High School for the past 18 seasons, Robinson makes it a point to keep an eye on fellow African-Americans trying to break into the head coaching ranks, those going through the same things he did nearly two decades ago.

Robinson believes it's his responsibility to reach out to these coaches coming along and help them in any small way he can.

Though it's something he continues to do, the regimen often has a familiar ending, with very few African-Americans getting hired in what can be a bleak landscape for coaches of their race.

"It's not a surprise to me that this has been going on," Robinson said.

In a city where the most high-profile coaching figure is an African-American -- Mike Tomlin of the Steelers -- and in a region that gave birth to the Rooney Rule -- which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for a head-coaching vacancy -- the local pool of high school football coaches is thin on diversity.

In the 2014 season, only 9 of 130 area high schools employed a head coach who is a racial minority (6.9 percent), a number that is significantly lower than in other cities in the region.

It's a figure former Gateway head coach and current Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith called "embarrassing." Dr. Richard Lapchick, a University of Central Florida academic who is considered a leading voice for racial issues in sports, said this lack of coaching diversity in high school football is a national problem, but referred to the numbers in Pittsburgh as "stunningly low" and "almost off-the-charts bad."

Though few consider that overall lack of representation intentional, it nonetheless exists, impacting the lives of the men who find a calling in the sport they love.

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Western Pennsylvania coaching pool thin on diversity

Its the second day of winter 2014 and the Eckerts landscape surrounding their Vail home is green and leafy with trees, bushes, yuccas and succulents.

The front yard welcomes visitors with a groomed version of the natural desert.

Water tumbling from the spa to the pool and several comfortable seating areas with Rincon Mountains views make the backyard an inviting gathering spot.

Its a lush setting of low water-use plants that mimic the Sonoran Desert beyond the property.

Those features helped earn two Tucson companies the 2014 Xeriscape Award from the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association. The award was shared by landscape designer Shelly Ann Abbott of Landscape Design West LLC and landscape contractor Sonoran Gardens Inc.

Chris Niccum, owner of Sonoran Gardens, hopes the attention the award brings will help people better understand xeriscaping.

Homeowners continue to be surprised and confused that something so green and lush as Betty and Jerry Eckerts gardens is called xeriscape, a term that combines two Greek root words to mean dry landscaping.

People still imagine that the term means zero-scape, essentially a dull, stark view of some rocks and cactus, says Niccum.

Xeriscape came up as a water-saving principle, says Niccum. I believe it has developed into a landscaping style.

For Tucson, that style means using native plants that thrive in low-water, desert conditions, he says.

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Xeriscape means dry, not dull