MAHOMET Village trustees got an update this week on when a landscape waste drop-off site might be available to Mahomet residents.

With two-year contracts about to expire, trustees voted to advertise for bids for the leaf and limb pickup programs.

Both contracts were awarded to Mahomet Landscapes two years ago and expire in April.

Leaf disposal costs the village about $6,000 per year. The contract for limb and yard waste pickup, with its labor and equipment costs, is pricier the previous contract was not to exceed $11,875 for each of six yearly collections.

But officials say those costs are likely to go up, as more residents opt to leave their brush on the curb for pickup. More participants mean more work hours and more material to process.

"The good news is that more people are using the program," Public Works Director Gary LaForge said. "The bad news is that it's costing more."

Village Administrator Patrick Brown said each collection could reach $13,000, as well as budgeting for an additional special collection in case of a strong storm.

LaForge and Brown presented several options for the next two-year contract, but the one that trustees opted to approve was for five scheduled pickups, plus additional funding for the proposed drop-off site at the new public works facility on Lake of the Woods Road.

LaForge said the drop-off could be available by April, depending on how soon gates can be installed at the site.

Public Works staff plan to make the manned drop-off available at scheduled times each month, possibly a Saturday morning.

Link:
Mahomet board updated on landscape waste disposal, recycling

Provided by Networx.com

Light up your landscape ... and your life. Add lighting to your outdoor space for all the very best reasons -- beauty, safety, and increased property value. Find out all about the "whys" and "whats" of lovely landscape lighting.

Why

Safety. The No 1 reason to install landscape lighting is for safety's sake. You and your family, and especially guests who are not familiar with the layout of your yard, will be gently guided as to the location of pathways, steps, and abrupt slopes. Specialized lighting for your pool and its surround will enable you to swim more safely at night (just make sure any lights which come into contact with water conform to the localsafety code).

Security. Shedding light on dim areas around your home's perimeter will discourage loiterers and burglars, who prefer to work in the dark.

Beauty and fun. There's nothing like the charm of a gorgeous garden or an attractive outdoor seating and activity area ... except when it's made even more appealing by a well-planned lighting installation.

Usability. Outdoor living is the best, no matter how short or how long your local warm-weather season may be. Use landscape lighting to extend the hours you can spend enjoying your yard, garden, patio, pool, and/or outdoor room.

Highlighting. Accent lighting can be designed to show off an exceptionally lovely flowerbed, water feature, or piece of statuary.

Convenience. Task lighting makes food prep in your outdoor kitchen or grilling area a lot simpler and pleasanter. It may also encourage would-be chef's assistants to join you.

Property value. Although having a landscape contractor install lighting is a relatively inexpensive home improvement, you'll reap a generous return on your investment: more enjoyment and utility from your property, a distinctive new look and increased curb appeal.

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Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value

Carol O'Meara CSU Cooperative Extension

If you go

What: High Plains Landscape Workshop

When: Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Where: The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins

Cost: $59, including coffee, light refreshments and bagged lunch; benefits Gardens on Spring Creek

Info: fcgov.com (type High Plains into the search window) or Spring Creek at 970-416-2486

Ready to dig into seminars that make you eager for spring? Don't miss the annual High Plains Landscape Workshop, Feb. 28 at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. Like the first robin of spring, the workshop kicks off the season for planning and preparing for a blooming great summer.

A fundraiser for the Gardens on Spring Creek, the event gets down to earth about real-world gardening with a mix of design, pollinator protection, troubleshooting and an exploration of fruits to satisfy your sweet tooth.

"I'll be talking about gardening for pollinators, what they are and what is around," says John Murgel, horticulture coordinator for the Denver Zoo who has a background in ecology and evolutionary biology. "Everyone thinks about honeybees, but I'll focus on native pollinators and what you can do to help them. Things like planting food for the adults and larvae, plus providing nesting material."

Go here to read the rest:
High Plains landscape workshop boosts spring

Matthews, North Carolina (PRWEB) February 10, 2015

Founder Ryan Ray at SecureTurf, Charlottes landscaping experts announces Mr. Eric Smith as the latest member to the landscape design and installation division. Mr. Eric Smith has been named the new Project Coordinator in the expansion of their landscape team at SecureTurf. This will ensure that the clients at SecureTurf receive the highest quality of service from their landscape design and installation division.

Mr. Eric Smith has been in the landscape design industry for almost two decades. Mr. Eric Smith has overseen many large scale landscape projects as a manager with past employers, in charge of six to ten crews at a time. As a local man of the Charlotte community, he understands the conditions of the environment in the Charlotte metro area. This should be a great addition to the SecureTurf landscape design and installation division as the Project Coordinator. Mr. Eric Smith is considered an expert in the field of hardscapes and backyard landscaping for a great enhancement to SecureTurf's team of experts.

SecureTurf is a full service landscape company, rated A+ with BBB for 20 years in the Charlotte Metro area. They will not only transform a yard and make it beautiful with their landscape design and installation division. Their lawn care division has great programs too. To have lush, greener lawn and help in maintaining a yard, they are the local landscaping experts. The lawn care division has hired new technicians to keep up with the demand and the important structure at SecureTurf, Charlottes landscaping experts. For more information about SecureTurf please visit SecureTurf.com.

Originally posted here:
SecureTurf Hires Mr. Eric Smith for Landscaping & Landscape Design

by Amanda Goodman

azfamily.com

Posted on February 9, 2015 at 6:45 PM

Updated yesterday at 11:17 PM

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The City of Tempe is rolling out a new program it says will help residents win the war on weeds in their yards.

It's called Tempe Landscape Referral.

"The City uses its, basically, bulk purchasing ability to get you the best rate possible," said city council member Kolby Granville.

Using that power, the City of Tempe has contracted with three landscaping companies to offer discounted rates for basic yard upkeep.

"You contract with them, they do the work. You pay on a monthly basis: $35 a month for the front yard and $70 a month during the summer months," Councilor Granville said.

Each company has been pre-screened and has agreed to a pre-negotiated price. That's the extent of the City's involvement unless a dispute arises.

Read more from the original source:
Tempe rolls out landscaping referral program

Serving the Western & Northwest Suburbs of Greater Chicagoland

A.G. Landscape Materials, Inc., located in Roselle, IL in Chicagos Northwest Suburbs, is a company that evolved from A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc., which is a company that was started in 1980 as a design/build firm. Throughout the years of working on landscape projects we have gained 1st hand knowledge of landscaping materials. Weve worked with it all, from fill dirt and grading to high end award winning brick paving and plant installations. Because of our experience with landscape materials on a vast variety of projects, weve become one of the Chicago areas leading resources for landscape materials.

Our customers can have us deliver their materials to their driveway or they can come to our yard, located in Roselle, IL and pick it up themselves. We pride ourselves on getting our bulk customers into our yard, loaded with their material and on their way to their job within a matter of minutes while providing friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable service.

Not sure which type of material you need? A member of our staff is available to help walk you through your project. We can help with everything from assisting you with your planning to getting you the right materials. Our inventory includes (but isnt limited to):

Topsoil, GO Compost, Garden Mix, Fill Dirt

Several Types of Mulches (Premium Hardwood Bark, Double Ground Hardwood, Dyed Red, Dyed Brown, and Aromatic Cedar)

Gravel

Decorative Stone

Sod & Seed

Weed Control Fabric & Erosion Control Fabric

Read more:
Chicago Western & Northwest Suburbs Landscape Design ...

The recent storms have dumped a load of snow across Nebraska, but the warmer temperatures are welcome. Take advantage of the warm weather to scout for potential issues in your landscape.

Heavy snow and ice build-up on plants can cause some problems. Extensive build-up can lead to limb breakage or even splits on limbs and trunks.

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Originally posted here:
Warm days a good time to check yard for storm damage

2014 Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include: (back row, left to right) Warren Rensehausen, William Harper, Dino Martino, Bruce Marshall, Jerry Burke, Brian Flynn, Thom Flynn, Mike Flynn, John Flynn, Halsey Herreshoff, Albert Quito (seated, left to right) Keith Medeiros, Maggie (Flynn) Morris, Patty (Flynn) Palmer and Christy Belisle.

The 2014 inductees into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame include several swimmers, a championship wrestler, an Americas Cup sailor and even a bull rider.

2014 Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include: (back row, left to right) Warren Rensehausen, William Harper, Dino Martino, Bruce Marshall, Jerry Burke, Brian Flynn, Thom Flynn, Mike Flynn, John Flynn, Halsey Herreshoff, Albert Quito (seated, left to right) Keith Medeiros, Maggie (Flynn) Morris, Patty (Flynn) Palmer and Christy Belisle.

Some inductees are honored for their athletic prowess, others for their coaching leadership, and some for their administrative talents. All have contributed extensively to the local sorts landscape over the years. The inductees include:

Brian Flynn

Brian Flynn was an all-state swimmer for LaSalle Academy, and earned a second-team allstate coaches award for the 100 yard freestyle swim as a sophomore. As a junior, he won the RIIL State Championship in the 50 yard freestyles and 100 yard freestyle. Mr. Flynn was ranked in the top 10 for New England in the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle that year. At Iona College, Mr. Flynn was named rookie of the year in 199394 and also played water polo. In 2014, he was named the Westchester Toughman AquaBike Champion.

Margaret Flynn Morris

Captain of the Bay View Academy swim team, Margaret Flynn Morris placed first in the 15- to 18-year-old freestyle relays at the Rhode Island Age Group Swim Championships in the 1980s. She qualified for the New England YMCA Swim Championships at Brown University in 1987 before competing on the Bentley College swimming and diving team from 1990-1994, winning MVP in 1991.

Michael Flynn

Michael Flynn was a second-team all-state swimmer for both the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly while swimming for LaSalle. He received the Paul San Souci Outstanding Swimmer Award in 1992. He went on to be a member of the Marist varsity swim team and was named to the of the All Metropolitan Collegiate Swimming/Diving team. In 2008, Mr. Flynn received the Greater Southern Dutchess Regional Chamber of Commerce Forty under 40 Award. He is the director of marketing and business development for Stribbons, Inc.

Continue reading here:
Meet the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2014

PLANS for an eight turbine wind farm have been rejected by councillors in the Scottish Borders.

Developers wanted to build the 110 yard high turbines near Romanno Bridge in Peeblesshire.

Stevenson Hill Wind Energy, on behalf of West Coast Energy, also applied to construct a new access road from the A701 Edinburgh to Moffat road.

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The application drew 125 letters of objection and one of support.

They wanted to build the turbines along the ridges of the peaks of Green Knows, Hag Law and Wether Law.

At a meeting in Newtown St Boswells members of the Scottish Borders Council's planning applications committee raised concerns

about its visual impact on the landscape and

neighbouring communities.

Archaeologists had also claimed it would cause unacceptable harm to four scheduled monuments of national importance and an historic

Link:
Wind farm plan rejected by councillors

Hillsborough, NC (919) 801-0211

Beautifying Landscapes in North Carolina and Virginia since 2002

1012 foot Nellie Stevens Screen Ideal for solving screening challenges as well as for use in stand-alone plantings or groupings.

Nellie Stevens Holly: Considered by some to be the Grand Dame of southern landscapes, Nellie Stevens Holly is valued for its rich green foliage, vibrant red berries as well as its heat and drought tolerance once established. This beautiful holly can also comfortably push into the 6b climate zone regions of the coastal Northeast and Middle Atlantic. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and will grow about 12 or more per year. It is very adaptable to shearing and can be kept to a desired height and width with regular pruning. (Height can reach 30 feet with 12 feet of width if not pruned.)

Green Giant Arborvitae: This great evergreen plant was developed by crossing the Western Red Cedar and Leyland Cypress. It has the great attributes of fast growth associated with the Leyland but none of the problems such as weak root systems, etc. This evergreen is used extensively in landscapes to provide screening solutions. It is adaptable from full-sun to a fairly heavy amount of shade which is not the norm with coniferous evergreens. This tree does not like shearing and therefore should be used where it can grow unimpeded. Growth of up to 2 feet or more per year. (Height can reach 40 feet with width of 15 feet.)

Check out our other Spring Into Summer 2014 Sale specimens, but hurry as our inventory is limited!

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Landscape Design, Large Specimen & Mature Trees, Hardy ...