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On behalf of the Scapes Family, welcome to our Fall issue of The Scapes Outsider. Enjoy... |
| A word from Ken |
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A self fulfilling prophecy?
Years ago at a campground with my family a little girl came riding by on her bicycle. As she went by I could hear her repeating to her herself," I am not going to run into that ditch. I am not going to run into that ditch". Well, a couple of seconds later that is exactly what she did. It's as if a magnet pulled her over there. How does that work? As much as she did not want to wind up in a ditch, her fear pulled her right in.
We have probably all had similar experiences in life either as a child or now as an adult. Fear is a powerful emotion. On the other side, so is positive thinking and positive action. Today we are all faced with the choice to be overcome with our fear or take action to override it. The question is where will we all be when this financial crisis is over? At Scapes we are using this time to focus on being a better company in the future. We are counting our blessings for the things we have. We are rethinking what we do and how we do it. We are finding ways to work smarter and in a more eco friendly mindset. We are focusing on our clients and our team and learning how to serve them better. We know where we are going and we are planning for success.
Here's the point, In order to keep fear from pulling us in, we need to focus on the things that we know will make us successful and do them. We will all be stronger and wiser on the other side.
Now let me leave you with an inside market tip. Don't miss the bottom! There will never be a better time to buy landscaping. Fall and winter are great times to landscape in the south!
And remember, by all means, stay out of the ditch!
Ken Thomas
General Manager |
| Scapes and Fernbank Museum |
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Visitor Experience at Fernbank Museum Starts Outside with
New Dinosaur Exhibition and Visitor Plaza
In fulfillment of Fernbank's rich environmental legacy, one of the Museum's top strategic priorities has been to create a pedestrian-friendly Entrance Plaza that invites visitors to connect with nature from the moment they arrive. And Scapes own Jim Lesti, RLA designed and is heading up the installation efforts as we speak.
Lush plants and flowers will transform the current entrance, making it more inviting while providing additional green space and an outdoor "classroom" for visitors to experience. A family of dinosaurs will anchor the plaza, captivating visitors, sparking their imaginations, and setting the stage for the immersive educational experiences they will soon discover within the building. The Entrance Plaza will literally put a new face on the Museum, reinvigorating the Fernbank brand and its commitment to life-long learning and appreciation for the environment. Make sure to put plans on you calendar to visit this coming spring.
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Do it Yourself - Fall Floral Table Arrangement |
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A fun Fall project for our very own Katia Leon:
Supplies:
1 medium pumpkin (make sure it can stand securely upright), ½ Brick of Wet Oasis Floral Foam, 1 small pack of flower preservative, Floral waterproof tape, Wooden toothpicks or a hard wire, Plastic bag, Stapler, Autumn flowers and accessories (apox. 20 stems) Process:
Prepare your floral foam by soaking it in water and flower preservative. Cut a circle in the top of the pumpkin and remove. Clean the inner contents completely and let it dry for a few min. Use a plastic bag as a liner and trim excess from plastic. Staple the edges. Insert already pre-soaked floral foam, cut as necessary to fit and secure it with floral waterproof tape. Use a toothpicks or hard wire to place the top on the side of the pumpkin (see picture - optional) Position largest focal flower in the heart of the arrangement and slightly lower to give weight and balance Fill in with the filler flowers and accessories to your liking.
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| Spotlight on making your Landscape Great |
| Get Comfy in the Garden! |
With more and more people choosing to spend their vacation and leisure time at their own homes, outdoor rooms and outdoor living spaces help provide a way to entertain and relax while bringing the indoors to the outdoors. Outdoor furniture has evolved from the conventional rocking and Adirondack chairs to luxurious deep seating sofas and lounge chairs with cocktail tables, ottomans and chaises. The days of uncomfortable patio furniture are over. Remember those aluminum folding chairs with the webbing? Thank goodness we don't have to deal with those anymore.
There are so many options for the discerning patio dweller these days. With so many things to choose from, there is definitely a choice to compliment not only your architectural style but your new landscape as well. Furniture materials are endless including; teak, all weather woven, recycled plastics that look like wood, powder coated aluminum and much more. Fabric selections range from simple and elegant to colorful and artsy. And with the weather and UV resistant fabric selections available, a lot of the worry of maintenance is eliminated.
Patty Watkins with Watkins Outdoor Furnishings says, "Manufacturers such as Gloster, Janus et Cie, Century, McKinnon and Harris, Summer Classics, Tropitone and many more are all part of our outdoor furniture selections. We have at our disposal everything you need to complete the look that you desire, making your outdoor living space as luxurious as the finest hotels and the envy of all your neighbors".
Scapes can help you with the perfect selection of furniture to compliment your new outdoor living space. During the design process we can creatively arrange spaces for specific furniture needs for entertaining as well as just family lounging. From a cozy nook on your back porch to a pool deck full of furniture, we can assist you in any of your needs.
So get out there and enjoy your garden, in a nice comfy chair though.
By Evan Rogers, Principal at Scapes |
| CURRENT WATER RESTRICTIONS |
Remember that new landscape installations as well as fall flowers and fescue overseed are included in the current water restrictions.
For more information:
OutdoorWater Use Registration Program is available at your county extension service office (1-800-ASK-UGA1) - free or online at www.urbanagcouncil.com - $ 4.95 convenience fee charge.
If you have questions you may give us a call at 770-919-7777 or visit www.maltalandscape.com
for the latest updates. |
Your opinion counts! Email us and let us know how we can improve.
If we don't know, we don't have a chance of serving you better.
See you Soon! | |
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| Be Amazed... |
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Scapes Wins Five National Awards |
At this years PLANET Awards Banquet
Scapes walked away with five new awards for the ole trophy case. Planet is the most prominent professional landscape/trade association in the country. Scapes won three Grand Awards out of ten given out. It is great to know that some of the best landscape design and installation is going on right here in Atlanta.
The Award Winners include the Block Residence above. This was an extensive Re-landscape of a decorator show house here in Buckhead. Jim Lesti, RLA did an amazing job of creating an island paradise to match the homes architecture (A Hawaiian Resort) and deliver the client straight to Maui when they drive through the gate. Another Grand Award winner is the Surface Residence completed by Adam Ardoin. The challenge here was to include a long list of amenities  into a very small space. The impact is nothing less than spectacular when you walk through the back door. This is one of those the smaller the space, the bigger the WOW factor. There is a oversized spa, plunge pool, an 8' sheer waterfall, a covered structure for shade, a magnificent fireplace and 4 fire urns on the edge of the pool. What a showplace. And not to be out done, Mark Dobbs took home another Grand Award for the Grote  Residence. This project, and even smaller space, is one of the most extreme small gardens around. A large spa with a vanishing edge leading to a perfect outdoor living room and outdoor kitchen. Living in a zero lot line subdivision, this garden has all of the privacy that you would ever want or need. And finally Chris Higdon won two awards. The first a Merit Award for the Buchanan Residence. This project was a complete landscape overhaul  including a pool and water fall, entertaining areas and the conversion of an outdoor storage area under a porch into an pool side bar and dining area. We were able to expand the outdoor living spaces by more than double and better accent the beautiful view down to the golf course. The transformation is incredible. Chris also won a Distinction Award for the Hibbard Residence. This project was also a complete overhaul, but this time to the house as well. The project took well over a year but the  entire result was worth the wait. Scapes was responsible for not only the landscape renovation, but also all of the hardscape repairs and redo as well, not to mention all of the rough sawn carpentry to really punctuate the Tuscan feel.
Congratulations to all of our hard working staff who worked on all of these projects. It takes a team to pull this off. Also, congratulations to our award winning clients. We thank you for the opportunity to do the kind of projects that we do everyday. |
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ASK THE EXPERT |
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Q: Is Fall really the best time to plant?
A: Yes, plants go through less stress and need less water. Also, due to our mild winters, the winter (with some exceptions) is a great time to plant as well. So plant away!
Have a question for The Expert?
Click here
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NEWS & EVENTS |
Eric King at UGA |
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As leaders in the landscape industry, Scapes employees are regularly asked to speak on a variety of horticultural topics. Eric King, RLA with Scapes was honored to speak as part of the University of Georgia student lecture series. Eric, who is also President-elect of the Georgia Urban Forest Council, addressed the faculty and students on the value of urban forests. His presentation was titled Giving Back to the Giving Tree: Healing our Forests to Heal Ourselves.
Presentation synopsis: "When I think back to the happiest, most grounded times in my life they usually occurred 20' feet up in the air surrounded by magnolia leaves or resting on a massive oak branch. My love of trees is part of a deep, instinctive realization that our natural world is not a luxury we can choose to live without, but rather an essential source of great healing and wellbeing. In Shel Silverstein's classic children's book The Giving Tree, we see a tree give all it has to a growing boy until finally both have nothing left. If we are to avoid the same fate we must come to terms with the true value of our forests and make every effort to protect and restore them for the sake of us all." Eric King, RLA
DIFFA Event and Fundraiser
Scapes Makes a Scene
Before
After
Scapes was able to give back to the community by donating our time, plants and expertise to create a dramatic front entry for the 2008 DIFFA Dining by Design event in Atlanta. DIFFA, which stands for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids, set up a huge white tent at the ADAC complex and Scapes added lush plants in fabulous containers donated by Pierce Martin. Eric King, RLA, and the Scapes team added interior plants that were part of a second event in the same tent called the "Green Tie" Event the Announcement of the 2008 Southeast Designers of the Year.
Scapes Invests in Education
Scapes helped First Montessori of Atlanta make the grand opening of their new classrooms truly Grand! Scapes was able to help the school get more for their budget as we installed two tractor trailer loads of sod. Scapes also installed concrete pavers and a new play area. Eric King, RLA with Scapes is now working with the teachers to design new outdoor classrooms that will feature an outdoor cafe, vegetable gardens, wildlife habit and more.
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| $100 Buckhead Life Gift Card |
 Take our short survey and you will be automatically entered to win a $100 Buckhead Life gift card! Take Survey
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Coming Soon!!!
We are in the process of updating our Web Site to include several new features as well as an all NEW Portfolio Gallery!
We will keep you posted. | |
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