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BOSTON (CBS) The NFL is king of the American sports landscape, but that doesnt mean the sport is content to stay the same.

Instead, the league is always trying to fine-tune the rules and regulations, and that will continue next week, when the competition committee will make several proposals to the leagues owners.

Among those proposals are four from the Patriots. According to The Boston Globes Ben Volin, they are:

1. Moving the line of scrimmage on extra points from the 2-yard line to the 25-yard line.

2. Extending goalposts upward an additional 5 feet.

3. Permitting a coach to challenge any officials decision except scoring plays (which are already automatically reviewed).

4. Placing additional cameras on all boundary lines to supplement TV cameras and aid the officials with instant replay.

These are not surprising to see, considering the Patriots recent history and Bill Belichicks outspokenness on some of the issues addressed.

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Patriots Proposals Among NFL Rule Changes Up For Voting Next Week

Whether your yard is a place of contemplation, a mini-farm or a never-ending improvement project, you'll need some stuff--and ideas--to spruce it up with. The Boise Flower and Garden Show is a clearinghouse for both.

Now in its 18th year, the BFGS fills the Boise Centre with landscape design, yard furniture and garden art; plant displays and sales; and presentations from experts including the Boise Bonsai Society.

On top of the displays, BFGS also features a judged flower show, two silent auctions and three days of seminars on everything from tomato-growing strategies and seed starting to garden infrastructure and pest control. Mary Ann Newcomer, the "Dirt Diva" of 94.9 The River and author of Rocky Mountain Gardeners Handbook and The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Mountain States, will present the keynote address.

If thinking about your own personal green space puts you in the mood for music and a relaxing beverage, plan to spend $10 for a commemorative wine glass plus three pours of vino and jazz by John Jones Trio on Friday, March 21-Saturday, March 22.

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Boise Flower and Garden Show

Landscape Yard Drainage French drain installation Columbia
If you have a drainage problem in your yard and you need a French drain or just a regular corrugated pipe drain installed to alleviate standing water, the be...

By: Ashley Brooks

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Landscape Yard Drainage French drain installation Columbia - Video

High winds and warmer temperatures can increase the chance for wildfires. But, imagine if your lawn service or landscape architect could help you figure out how to design and maintain a yard that is more resistant to wildfires. Monday the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension held a symposium to reach out to landscape professionals who are often on the front lines when it comes to creating defensible space.

Cooperative Extension Natural Resource Specialist Ed Smith said it's important to enlist landscape professionals in the fight against wildfires. "In my mind it's a no-brainer," said Smith. "If we can get the landscape industry up to speed on wildfire threat reduction, proper vegetation management and reduce the threat, we'll have a very powerful and valuable ally that'll help northern Nevada residents reduce the fire threat."

About 60 people attended the conference, including horticulture consultant Leslie Lyles. "One of the big things I've learned is how far the defensible space has to be. I've always used the 30 foot rule, but I'm learning now that on slopes it can be 150 - 200 feet depending on the steepness of the slope," she said.

Reno firefighter Ben Rupert was one of the speakers at the symposium. He talked about why it's important to first responders that the houses they protect have defensible space. "Fuel moisture content is one of the biggest things we look at. The amount of moisture in the plant is very important." He cited juniper bushes as an example of a plant that's highly flammable. Landscape professionals can suggest other materials that can help homeowners reduce the spread of fire. "You're looking at decking, the siding, we have all different types of fire resistant material they can use to assist us," said Rupert.

Experts hope that landscape professionals can spread the message about defensible space and help stop the spread of wildfires. Leslie Lyles will use this information as when she talks to clients about their plants. "We can't control the weather, and we can't control the topography of our lands, but we can control the fuel source," Lyles said.

Written by Jennifer Burton

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Landscapers Learn about Defensible Space at Local Conference

Landscape Trends of 2014

How does one predict the landscape design trends of 2014? Well, they look at some of the most popular trends of 2013.

In the past, the landscaping was a row of perennials or shrubs around the foundation of a house, some nice shade trees and lots of lush green lawn. In 2014, gardeners are seeking more from their landscape by trying to create an outdoor living space, which has been trending for a while. A place to drink their morning coffee, watch the birds and have family gatherings.

This leads to the first prediction: fire pits or fire grill, because who doesn't want to enjoy the outdoors while grilling a steak or keeping warm on a cool night. These can be very easy for homeowners to install and come in an array prefabricated kits.

The sustainable gardener will rule in 2014 by conserving water and preventing runoff and erosion. Rain barrels will be placed under gutter spouts to collect the rains of the spring for the droughts of the summer. If it doesn't rain an inch every week, then it is advised to give additional water to the landscape to keep the plants in good health.

Many gardeners may be contemplating installing drip irrigation to save time and conserve water. According to Colorado State University, drip irrigation is 9 percent efficient in getting the water where it needs to be compared to sprinkler irrigation at 50-60 percent.

Rain gardens and permeable walkways may also experience a spike in popularity. Rain gardens are designed to capture storm water runoff from roof tops, drive ways or parking lots. Instead of going into local water ways, the water is recycled back to recharge the ground water and filter out pollutants. Plants like swamp milkweed, cardinal flower, penstemon and Culver's root should be employed in a sunny rain garden. For a shade rain garden, use native ferns, Jacob's ladder and wild ginger.

Gardeners may also use permeable walkway pavers, pervious concrete or open-celled concrete blocks instead of an old fashioned slab of concrete to help reduce runoff and erosion. They still provide the solid base but allow the water or melting snow to seep into the ground rather than wash into the storm gutters. If walkways or drive ways are near trees, this will allow the water to get to the roots.

Finally, the last predicted trend is less grass and more native plants. You don't have to be an experienced gardener to know that having a lush green lawn is a lot more work than creating gardens of native plants. Native plants do not need as much water, fertilizer or regular mowing; get considerably less pests and diseases; and, once established, can be home to wildlife like birds and butterflies.

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Yard and Garden: Landscape Trends of 2014

The eight-year programme of work announced on Thursday will involve construction of new buildings and facilities, as well as refurbishing current equipment ready to begin work on Successor.

It will have a major impact on the Barrow yard, which has been building submarines for more than a century.

Alan Dunn, operations director of BAEs submarines unit: said: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for BAE. There has been no work on this scale at Barrow in more than 25 years and we will change the skyline and the landscape of the town."

The new funding for Barrow will allow the construction of larger missile submarines there, said Mr Hammond.

By spending the money now, the UKs submarine requirements could be delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively, as well as ushering in a new stance on defence procurement.

Frankly, in the MoD we are done with the days of letting people cut steel first and design the boats or ships, or whatever, afterwards, said Mr Hammond. If we are going to hold our contractors properly to account to deliver on time and on budget, in fairness to them, we have got to tell them exactly what it is we want before they start building it.

In the past, Im afraid there has been a tendency to build first and design later, so it makes absolute sense to get the design completed before we sign the contracts on the Successor class.

"This investment needs to be made now to allow us to build the Successor class to the programme and timetable set out.

He hailed the engineers building the Astute-class submarines recognised to be the most advanced in the world and the history of shipbuilding at Barrow.

This site has a long and illustrious history of submarine design and construction, said Mr Hammond. No one can rival the history, expertise and track record of this site in this highly specialised field and the Astute class surpasses anything that has gone before.

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BAE Systems to get 300m submarine yard upgrade

by Kaley O'Kelley

azfamily.com

Posted on March 12, 2014 at 11:04 AM

Updated today at 11:20 AM

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If watering your yard is killing your household budget, the idea of a desert landscape might be appealing to you.

Planting cacti might help because they don't need much water to survive. While they can be a nightmare for parents and pet owners, they don't have to be, according to master gardener Cesar Mazier.

"Opt for the Totem Pole Cactus," he said. "They're spineless and that means you can plant them around pools, really anywhere you might find kids playing!"

Mazier would know. He spent 16 years of his career at the Desert Botanical Garden.

He also says planting aloe will help to attract hummingbirds to your outdoor living space. Planting it near windows you enjoy sitting near is the key to creating a sanctuary you can enjoy inside and out.

That aloe should also attract lizards, which is a good thing if you're struggling to get rid of scorpions.

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Create a worry-free desert oasis and keep scorpions away, too

Weve had our winter a little snow, a cold snap or two, and a bunch of rain so now its time to start thinking about spring.

And nothing says spring like yard work and landscape renovations.

If you love your home, and you havent already done the deed, chances are youre already thinking about how youre going to transform your yard into your personal paradise this spring and summer. And if youre a typical homeowner, you probably dont have nearly enough money to do everything youd like to do, or enough time to accomplish it all.

Which is why Sherilyn Gale and Rob Turner of Beneath Your Feat Landscaping suggest the best way to begin transforming your yard is to develop a plan.

Naturally, there are as many ways to develop the perfect plan as there are people, and your personal paradise is not going to end up looking anything like your neighbours or best friends.

Its all about personal taste, say Gale and Turner.

Even if youre on a budget, you can achieve wonders, if you put your mind to it.

The award-winning landscaping team says a good plan starts with a dream. Do you envision a party zone or a personal oasis? Is it about food production or a place for the kids to play? Did you take a trip somewhere and marvel at the gardens you saw?

Perhaps you wish to include a design such as a Japanese garden, or as many customers we have built for want, a garden that emulates the Whistler theme natural rocks, boulders and native plantings that are drought tolerant. It could include an actual waterfall and stream, or even a dry river bed, says Gale.

One of the advantages of creating a plan, says Turner, is that it allows you to do the necessary projects over time. This is particularly helpful for those who can only devote so much time each year, or those whose budget only stretches so far.

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Gardening: Planning to transform your yard

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Author and landscape architect Senga Lindsay will inspire both your landscape and your fresh-from-the-garden meals with her multi-media workshop this Saturday, March 8 at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden.

March 7, 2014

Author and landscape architect Senga Lindsay will inspire both your landscape and your fresh-from-the-garden meals with her multi-media workshop, The Best of the Best: Edible Trees, Shrubs and Plants to Use in Your Landscape.

The workshop takes place this Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden in Sechelt.

The grow-your-own-food movement has taken a stylish turn these days as foodies want their edible plants to look as good as they taste. From fruiting shrubs to root crops, patio containers to acreage, tasty plants belong in every garden.

Lindsay is a bright light on the Vancouver garden design scene and has created edible landscapes for private clients and restaurants, even edible rooftops.

Her recent book, Edible Landscaping: Urban Food Gardens that Look Great, will be available for sale. You can catch a preview on her YouTube channel, Pinterest page or website, http://www.sengadesigns.com.

A homes landscape can be its most healthy and attractive room, helping our planet while saving money too. You may be willing to make a few small changes or renovate your whole yard; either way, youll reap the environmental benefits, enjoy your outdoor space more, and harvest the herbs, fruit and vegetables, too.

Tickets are on sale at the Garden at 5941 Mason Road in West Sechelt, at local nurseries and at the Sechelt Visitors Centre, $12 for Botanical Garden members or $15 for non-members.

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How to eat your landscape in style

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Discovery Cove at SeaWorld Orlando Guests interact with dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove. (JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINEL /October 24, 2005)

The Discovery Cove horticulture team will do a front-yard makeover for a Central Florida contest winner.

The "Landscape Your Yard" contest requires participants, living within a 50-mile radius of Discovery Cove, to submit a photo of their front lawn with a description of why they should win the prize. Descriptions must be less than 500 words. Submissions must be made via the Discovery Face Facebook page by March 10.

On March 12, Discovery Cove Facebook fans will vote for the yard that needs the attention the most. The top vote-getter will be announced March 19.

On April 22 -- that's Earth Day -- the Discovery Cove horticulture team will overhaul the homeowner's lawn.

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Discovery Cove: Contest winner will get front-yard makeover from horticulture team