Oct
27
A Green Idea From Long Ago
Photo by James P. Blair. © National Geographic Society.
Interactive planning director Jeannine sent this image to me this morning. Residents of Sun City, a retirement community near Phoenix, once upon a time covered their lawns in grass-colored gravel. What do you think? This eco idea dates back to the early 1960s. Who needs drought-tolerant shubs and flowers when there’s emerald stones to scatter across the yard?
There'd be NO mowing! Be sure to put the black landscaping tarp underneath so weeds don't grow up through those stones.
If this is a retirement community, wouldn't there'd be some sort of landscaping company taking care of the grounds. I can't imagine telling my mom (in assisted living) that it's time to mow. Heck, we took the car keys away from her. Can't see her behind a wild mower. You might wonder why I chose the adjective "wild". If you knew my mother, you'd understand why this machine would appear that way. If you gave her a riding one, she might consider it her new car. I feel sure that she won't be reading this….and if she did…she'd laugh.
I'm so glad you said "once upon a time". Hope that idea is corrected by now. I found the picture and the whole idea so sad. If that's the price of "sun", I'll stay where the seasons are real. But thanks, Mary, for a look back in history.
Great vintage photo, MARY, but from past experience, I'd say that the grass-colored gravel idea doesn't have a very long shelf life in hot, sunny, desert climates. The sun soon bleaches it first to a blueish-green, then pale blue-green, then a sad looking, washed out blue. It's not pretty at that point.
Reminds me of the current trend by banks and mortgage companies who hold foreclosed real estate these days. Many communities now require them to spray paint the dry, brown grass of the front yards a "healthy" green—at least until that starts to fade into a worn and matted blue-green looking carpet as well.
The best approach: start with appropriate xeriscape plantings for your area, chosen for seasonal color and ease of maintenance, add some natural color gravel (pinkish reds go well) and work in some larger river rock to help define soft drainage flow lines within your yard's perimeters. Eco-friendly, and pretty much guaranteed to always look good and last a lifetime.
Go Lean and Go Green!
I remember visiting Sun City many years ago. If I remember correcty one of the residents had a concrete pedestal amongst the green, and on that pedestal they had mounted a push mower painted gold colored.
I think it's absolutely dreadful, discusting actually. What should be done is to landscape the lots/plots (you can't call them lawns or even yards !!!) with deset plants, stone, etc — keep it as nature made it !!! If one wants to live in a desert one should accept the desert landscape — Arizona can't be Florida & vise-versa !!!!!
(I've seen idiots here in FLA put in rock & gravel yards & it looks awful & makes me very sad — especially when the University of Florida has & continues to breed/design new types of St.Augustine grasses that are more & more draught, bug, disease, & heat tolerant — so there's NO EXCUSE not to have a nice lawn. Along with these new grasses (aka: FLORATAM) there've also been less harmful fertilizers developed & plants should be native — there are dozens of beautiful native plants including flowers (that's where Juan Ponce' DeLeon came up with the name: La Florida)!!! There's nothing as wonderful as running your bare toes through a wonderful FLORATAM lawn !!!
So design & Xeriscape for your area !!! Your county will have a master-gardener who can teach & guide you through the needs of your area FREE OF CHARGE — so, GO GET THE KNOWLEDGE !!!!!
FYI: "Floratam" is an off-shoot of St. Augustine grass which IS NATIVE to Florida , it was developed by joint efforts of U of F and Texas A & M.
I think those emerald colored stones look great!
When you tire of looking at the emerald-green colored gravel in Sun City, head over to Quincy, MA (only 27 miles from the eco-friendly HGTV Pinehills Green Home 2010) and enjoy discovering America at the Adams National Historical Park. This park "tells the story of four generations of the Adams family (from 1720 to 1927). The park has two main sites: the Birthplaces of 2nd U.S. President John Adams and 6th U.S. President John Quincy Adams, and Peacefield including the “Old House,” home to four generations of the Adams family, and the Stone Library which contains more than 14,000 historic volumes."
When folks say that Plymouth Rocks, it's the real deal! No green gravel or spray-painted lawns, just nature's bounty on display and our nation's heritage from the Pilgrim's day.
Thank you Coop for grounding us once again!
Even though our hearts belong to the GH2010, did you know that this photo represents the 1960 Del Webb retirement community near Phoenix where more than 100,000 seniors toured his community and bought 237 homes in the first weekend! What a concept for the era!! An era that was dominated by nylons, beehive hairstyles, petticoats, bold femininity, bright lipstick, and often the projection of a "cheerful, happy" persona.
So, having an Emerald Lawn seemed to fit the time, and the trend! It wasn't so long ago that this Pilgrim Ph-eminine Ph-eline can't remember the charm of the diverse trends of the 60's Mystique! Emerald Rocks and Tie-Dyed shirts!! The Rockin' Sixties!!
MGTOTD: Before the first frost, don't forget to pick the herbs in your garden. You can enjoy them all year long if you wash, pat dry, and freeze the herbs in sealable plastic bags!!
Dear;Mary I think it is beautiful and the most important met the necessity and requirements for the residents
Barbara: Very interesting information, but a bit strong calling people "idiots". I prefer the term "less informed". When I visit Florida, I love to run my toes through sand. Nothing can beat the summer grasses in Michigan and all the other Mid-west states.
Now, who mentioned xeriscape first? I think it was Coop. Doesn't matter. You can't make Florida look like the Arizona desert and the opposite. (notice, i meant visa-versa, but got bad spelling) I can't make my garden look like Hawaii but I can grow roses and tulips and irises and dogwoods. Keep it Green!
Coop: I would love to visit the Adams National Historical Park. I am reading a lot of that history right now. Thanks for the info.
Marie Miller, I was going to say that this very useful MGTOTD should have appeared yesterday, before the snowfall in Sandia Park, but on second thought, I doubt they grow much in the way of herbs in the high desert. Any insights?
Talking about xeriscapes, I find it simply amazing that in the Coachella Valley, the home of Palm Springs and other inland desert communities, there are reputed to be over 100 golf courses. Imagine the water needed to keep the greens green there in the summer! However, I'm sure I've read that some, or maybe many, of the courses use reclaimed water. Besides, I guess all the Palm Trees and native desert plantings help balance out the water requirements somewhat.
I don't know about herbs, but the Coachella and neighboring Imperial Valley do grow plenty of dates along with lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and lots of other produce.
Plenty of sand to run between your toes there, Katydid, as well as swimming pools and spas to dip in, lots of tennis courts, and excellent shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert. In Palm Springs, I never miss my annual visit to the Palm Springs Follies. I also really enjoy the Palm Springs aerial tramway, which rises over one mile, and at 20 degrees cooler than the valley floor, it's a great place of hike and dine during the dog days of summer visits.
Plymouth Pilgrims and Palm Springs Pioneers Rock!
Green rocks are tacky. Nothing wrong with desert landscaping, but keep the stones natural and be proud of your rock landscaping, don't try and fake it into being something that it is not- grass!
Dear Coop, and Katydid: Xeriscapes are not only the latest trend in landscaping, they are becoming a necessity in many areas. Interesting to think about: The next time you go to a gas station, take notice how the drinking water they are selling inside is usually more expensive than the gasoline they are selling outside. Like gasoline, water needs to be conserved. A Xeriscape can be a beautiful and effective way of doing this.
Maybe some of the inland desert communities are planting warm season grasses, such as buffalo grass and blue grama, which are very water conservative? These grasses do not need as much water and are perfect in areas that do not get a lot of use, such as a sunny front lawn.
MGTOTD: Avoid sugar snap peas with dry-looking, rusty, wilted, or damaged pods, as they might have been hanging around for a while. Pods should be plump, uniform in color, and crisp – reject them if you can see large seeds through the skin, which means they will have lost their freshness.
Coop: If only I could afford a visit to Palm Springs, I'd be there in a flash. Can you tell us more about the Palm Springs Follies? When is it and what is presented? As for the golf courses, as Marie pointed out, they probably use warm season grasses, but with their abundance of sand, hope they don't make the traps unduly large. I am lucky to live in a state surrounded by the Great Lakes, but that makes me even more conscious of the need to conserve water. Live Green. I'll drink to that with a glass of tap water.
Katydid, the Follies just opened for the new season and runs until the end of May each year. It's a great show, billed as "a world-famous, Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 40s, 50s, and 60s with a cast old enough to have lived it!" The cast are all stars in their own right, professional singers and dancers from ages 56 to 85 plus, You have to see it to believe it—and you wonder how they can all look so good under those bright stage lights! Quite a production, and well worth seeing. Just look at PalmSpringsFollies online for the full story. And while in PS, don't miss the Aerial Tramway up to the top of Mt San Jacinto; it's yet another uplifting experience! Check it out at PStramway online.
Now, away from the desert xeriscapes and back to the rich green landscape of the HGTV Pinehills Green Home.
Plymouth Rocks and Palm Springs Rolls!
Ahhhh Coop & Katydid: Shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert, aka "The Rodeo Drive of Desert!!" I cannot say that I am a woman with great fashion sense, however I read that the hottest new styles will hit the runway during the fifth annual Fashion Week El Paseo, presented by the City of Palm Desert!! WOW!! The weeklong event will take place at the Great White Fashion Week tent in the fashionable El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, California, March 22-28, 2010. The Designer celebrities will include Kevan Hall (known for sensuously draped streamlined silhouettes), Lloyd Klein (combines intricate "Grêco" fabric draping and sublime choices of material), and Eduardo Lucero (known for his vivid colors, feminine detailing, romantic and curvaceous shapes in his designs) This presentation may not be quite like the collections seen on the elegant stage at the Opera Comique in Paris, but I would love to participate even though I'm not typically a 'gliz & glam' kindda girl!!
Further….Coop, I would also love to participate in the 'Fabulous Palm Springs Follies'….yes, 'Let the Good Times Roll!' My favorite era…the greatest good-time music of the '40s, '50s and '60s!! A time for the Big Bands, Swing to Doo-Wop, Motown and Pop!! Whether you listened to these songs on the jukebox, or listened to them on your Hi-Fi, it was a time when you just wanted to get up and dance!
Also, thank you for mentioning The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which I understand was constructed in rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs! Thanks to you, I read about it, and have put it on my list of 'gotta do' when visiting Palm Desert!!! I especially liked the idea of the guided nature walks at the Top of the Tram!!!
MGTOTD: Intricate glass chandeliers can be cleaned with gin and a soft cloth. Really!! Just fill a spray bottle with cheap gin and spray away!! (The trick is to not inhale the Liquor!!)
I have not heard the term Hi-Fi in YEARS! LOL Be careful in using some of the younger Wi-Fi users may think it's a newer version.
No chandeliers = no problem.
Using gin to clean chandeliers? I can think of other uses, Marie. I'm told that with just a few glasses, it'll clean your clock, too! (Again, the trick is not to inhale the Liquor!)
So, for sparkling chandeliers, and a twinkle in your eye, thank you Marie Miller for another interesting MGTOTD.
Plymouth Rocks and Gin Rules!
Don't talk about shopping on El Paseo, Marie Miller. My credit cards have been feeling neglected since my return from Thailand in late August, and they'd jump at the chance to run amok (or amuck) at all the high-end boutiques, art galleries and ritzy restaurants in Palm Desert. I've put them on "ice" (without the gin), to be soon set free once again in the Caribbean…
Then of course there's all the fantastic shopping in Santa Fe, and sightseeing to do along the Turquoise Trail when visiting the Dream Home, much less the Boston experience, along with Plymouth and all of Cape Cod during a Green Home visit. If only those credit cards would wear out before I do, but it never seems to happen that way!
But as they say, if you've only one life to live, live it well !!!!
Coop: What's with the tie-in between Liquor, cards and chandeliers? I suppose the common denominator would be hitting a 'gin rummy!!' And, my idea of a gin rummy would be having a credit card that never hits the bottom-less pit!! Shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert with a 24-7 line of credit would be heaven!! Think of the treasures that you could collect for home, body & soul? And, don't forget to reserve bus tours and tickets online now for the 'Boston Experience!!' So, if that economic stimulus check from the government is still burning a hole in your pocket, plan a trip to Massachusetts, the shopping is fabulous & you might even have a chance to see Coop and Show-Me at their best at the high-end boutiques, art galleries and ritzy restaurants in Palm Desert.
Let's shop til you drop!!
Coop: Did you know that a version of "Whiskey Poker" is still played in Mexico, where it is known as La Viuda (the widow), or possibly La Vida (life)?
To my dear blogging buddies:
From ghoulies and ghosties,
Long-leggety beasties,
And things that go bump in the night….my best to all of you on this lovely Halloween night!!!!
Halloween:
"A gentle breeze rustling the dry cornstalks.
A sound is heard, a goblin walks.
A harvest moon suffers a black cat's cry.
Oh' do the witches fly!
Bonfire catches a pumpkins gleem.
Rejoice, it's Halloween!"
MGTOTD: How to Go Green on Halloween!! Luckily, the basics of Halloween, spooky tales, playing dress-up, things that go bump in the night, don't require massive quantities of cash or a wasteful amount of resources as long as you're willing to think ahead and let your imagination run wild. Making your own costume will put a huge dent in the consumerism of the holiday!
An at-home Halloween party will let you save energy if you live in a spread-out neighborhood where trick-or-treating would require a car: Dim the lights, set out some soy candles, and get the younger set bobbing for apples, making crafts from recycled paper, and telling their favorite ghost stories.
Happy Green Halloween!!
Dear; Mary: Prety picture of the community, and prety green rocks , and, can,t wait to see more updates on the DGH `.~
I have seen similar ideas done for some freeways
home decor guy
http://www.homedecornew.com
I don't know about all of you, but I certainly have a sugar hang-over this morning…not enough 'tricker treaters' & too much candy left over! If I eat one more candy corn…allbeit that they are delicious, my sugar levels are totally out of wack!! Nothing but spinach salad for this girl today!!!
MGTOTD: Do you really need to buy that Panini Maker? Not if you already have a waffle iron, you don't. Give it a try. It's a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches, too!!!
I have seen this in person and do not like it!! I guess I love plants better than rocks. But, they do have a great, green product now that looks and acts just like grass…..and it does not look like the original synthetic turf…Plus, scorpions love hiding in those rocks!!! There are also wonderful low growing plants that replace grass and look great!! The more plants around your house in the desert the cooler the temperature. As long as you use drought tolerant and native plants!!! And there are so many….with flowers,,, without flowers,,, green… gray,,dark,,,light!! Coop, I hope that you have a great time in the Caribbean!! We are planning our trip for my little one's birthday!! He wants to go to Atlantis… And, I definitely do not mind!!! I love the white sand and turquoise sea!! Oh, and the Bahama Mamas (the drink of course)!!! Marie, another great tip… and it is a great way to clear out your liquor cabinet… And you are correct about xeriscapes being a necessity in some areas… which is already implemented in Las Vegas!! They use the synthetic grasses….or rocks…. no grass!! They have a water shortage and have learned how important it is to protect our environment by using native and drought tolerant plants!!! Love life by living green!!!
Hey reneelovesgreen: Your little one has GREAT taste!! Atlantis is absolutely magnificent, and I look forward to going there sometime soon. We were in the Bahamas some years back, and loved it! The snorkling is like no other place, and the conch choices, whether fritters or stew, is fabulous. Your son will never want to leave the Aquaventure! It is my understanding that it is a thrilling 141-acre water park featuring over twenty million gallons of water! WOW!! This non-stop "aqua" adventure offers incredible Atlantean-themed towers with multiple high-speed water slides, a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids and waves, a spectacular kids water-play fort and 11 unique and refreshing pools.
I do believe that most of the Bahamas are eco-friendly!! Loving life and 'Green' with Envy!! Have a fantastic trip!!
MGTOTD: When you're going to beat egg whites for a recipe, let the eggs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using them. The egg whites will then beat to a greater volume. If possible, beat them in a copper bowl!!
Oh yeah reneelovesgreen: Bahama Mama's are soooooooo good! I have not forgotten that from going to the Bahama's!!!
For those of you that have not experienced this delicious drink, here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/2 fluid ounce rum
1/2 fluid ounce coconut-flavored rum
1/2 fluid ounce grenadine syrup
1 fluid ounce orange juice
1 fluid ounce pineapple juice
1 cup crushed ice
Directions:
Combine regular rum, rum with coconut flavoring, grenadine, orange juice, pineapple juice and crushed ice in an electric blender. Blend until the drink's consistency is slushy.
Cheers my friends!!
Been away for a few days and now I'm dizzy thinking about Marie's recipe for Bahama Mamas. Coop: If you would send one of your neglected credit cards my way, maybe I could afford to see the Palm Springs Follies. Saw the clip and was so taken with the connection between the entertainers on stage and the audience. That is just a priceless feeling for a performer. Marie, don't know how you come up with all the wonderful information you provide, but I thank you.
reneelovesgreen: Have a safe and fun filled trip with your precious little one.
Time for me to dream about that Plymouth home that rocks in Ma.
Dear Show-Me and Coop: Hope you are having a fabulous time, you are sorely missed here at the GH & also on the DH!! I guess if you dole out your neglected credit cards, don't forget to send one to Brookings!!! I wouldn't mind sharing them with Katydid, and I could find an exclusive way to exercise their buying power here on the Oregon Coast!!
Dreaming the Dream, and then some!!!
MGTOTD: Before using your woolen or cotton blanket when the weather turns cold, wash them in the gentle cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar. It will leave them fluffy and soft as new!!
Marie, tried the idea using the waffle iron for a grilled cheese sandwich. Guess I need to practice how much cheese it can handle. ; ) Thankfully my new steam cleaner was able to get the extra cheese off the griddle.
There are some interesting/informative pictures on phase II. One can see the basement excavation, the foundation & basement walls poured and read about some of the green building techniques.
I'm baaack! What a great weekend. Miracles never cease—just after discussing the Palm Springs Follies, Show Me and I got a call from a friend who had spare tickets to the Saturday matinee, so we drove ourselves down to the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs and enjoyed a great show. Brad Cummings is a marvelous ventriloquist, along with his partner in crime, dinosaur "Rex"; guest performer Susan Anton sang her delightful Christmas tunes, and of course, all of the Follies dancers were out in stunning costumes to perform the season's new "Let The Good Times Roll" extravaganza. Along with a little dining out, and a modest workout of the credit cards thanks to a bit of shopping, it was a hauntingly memorable Halloween weekend.
Now, the focus returns to matters of far greater importance, the unfolding story of the Pinehills' Green Home and its lean and green building techniques and eco-friendly features.
Plymouth Rocks while Pilgrims Dream!
Dear:Mary its great to see that there are some peopple caring
for others and thinking in the best for them like putting a Green gravel lawns dressing their homes in Sun City, a retirement community and let them enjoying their life doing better things `.~
Coop, I guess your cards are feeling better!! Glad to see you enjoyed your trip. My Husband is heading to Palm Springs on Nov. 17th, for a photo shoot. Looks like Palm Springs is getting a lot of attention this year.. Marie, you are so awesome, really. You always share so much information with us..and it is never wasted!!! I always use, store or share your wonderful comments. Yes, my son is excited to travel to the Bahamas and we are keeping it as green as possible…looks like we will go by boat…maybe even a Catamaran!!!! I will tell him all of the details that you shared with me today and thank you for wishing us a great trip!!! (you are always so sweet)!! Ed, I see with foundation of the Green Home, but, I don't see that the construction or floor plan has a basement… I will go back and research the Phase ll and see if I missed something. Katydid, you are another one who is always so kind… and funny. Thank you !!! And, I too, am a little dizzy after reading the ingredients in the Bahama Mamas…But, very excited to drink one…or two… Maybe, for the Christmas Boat Show, I will make some for our guests!! Alma, you are correct, in Sun City the retirees love living life and not having to worry about their landscaping.. Though, there are several golf courses drinking up all of the water… Most, have now changed to repurposed water irrigation…. They also drive a lot of golf carts… Therefore, doing their part for the environment while having fun!!! Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary!!! Just thought that I would share with my friends, here!!! Love life by living green!!!!!
Ed, I double checked … and, I do still see that portion that looks like a basement, even with a window under the side entrance that heads towards the mud room. Nothing on the floor plan… so, I am assuming that it will mainly be storage for the heating unit, water heater, etc. I am not educated on basements and have never lived in a house with one. Though, our family members have them in Europe. They use them for an extra bedroom and a sewing room. I can't wait for the completion of this Green Home!!!! It is very special this year!!! Love life by living green!!!
Welcome back Coop and Show-Me, even with your tattered and torn credit cards! I must ask, did you attend the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs in costume to enjoy the show? I would think it would be a 'howling' good time, especially to see Brad Cummings & Susan Anton!! You would have certainly fit in with the Follies dancers in their unbelievable costumes!! And, their performance of theseason's new "Let The Good Times Roll" extravaganza must have been excellent. It sounds like you really put those credit cards to great work with dining and shopping, and just having a more than memorable Halloween weekend. While we, the more than mere mortals, enjoyed the holdiay by diming the lights and handing out candy! How 'goulsome' is that? Welcome back!!!
MGTOTD: What's the easiest way to remove red wine spills from your carpet? Try a bit of foaming shaving cream (after checking that the carpet is colorfast)!
CHEERS!!
Reneelovesgreen, Happy aniversary! Ten years, must mean you can enjoy ten on Maries Bahama Mamas. They sound like my type of drink! I remember my tenth anniversary, of course that was 32 years ago!! Looking at the basement, it looks like it is divided in sections. One of them looks like it could be a cistern. That woul be pretty green! Our house here in Oregon has a basement. It is a daylight basement so it is almost like a seperate apartment. The house I grew up in in MA had a basement similar to the Green Home. It had the boiler in it the washer, a shop & a ping pong table. It also had a lot of the normal junk one usually stores in a garage. Although there won't be much natural light down there I am sure an entertainment room or other function could be put down there.
reneelovesgreen: My heart sings to wish you Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary!!! Happy trip to the Bahamas, by whatever boat, I'm sure your son will be excited. Keep safe, so we can all welcome you home and hear about your adventures…….and any way you found to keep it green.