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Greetings!

I smile when I look over the past two years of Groundwork which started in March 2006 and since then we have published 35 editions. So it's a little celebration today as we fire out this latest version. I have chosen a few articles from the archive, and notice that I talk about the weather and seasons quite a bit. When Agnomaly was around my favorite article was when the country was under water in July 2007, it's not quite like the smell of 2 stroke at Bonnie Doone but a bloody good way to get around on water. I wonder if there is potential to turn that into a hot tub. - watch this space.

A Gnomaly - Raining - July 2007

Another popular article was a surprise - sometimes it's in the details -

Straight lines


Some tips from Tim -  July 2006

You don't leave price labels on your clothes so why leave them on your plants?

REMOVE all tags from your plants - these are for identifying the plants in the nursery and are unsightly in your garden. If you want to remember the name of a plant then staple the label in a scrapbook and make a note of where it is in your garden. Observe the plant and why not try remembering it? Look at the foliage, the flowers and distinctive features. You will be surprised how careful observation for a few moments can make a name stick in your mind.

Straight Lines - No excuse for the wonk factor

If you are trying to achieve a straight line in your garden whether it is a hedge or a path - always use a tight string line or straight edge. Working to a straight edge leaves no room for wonky excuses. Crisp lines in a garden add the 'X'factor!

On another nostalgic note, I can't believe that fashion has rolled around to 80's fluoro once again, yikes - but there is one classic that I love from that era, and since we are celebrating - take a look at Billie T James Home Improvement  classic on you tube.

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Con Kiernan - Mosiac Artist

I fell into mosaic art about 6 years ago. I no longer felt good about going to a firm and suggesting I do their advertising. The vague looks from management at this 60 year-old attempting to cater for their young ideas were not a pretty sight. Move on Kiernan, move on.

 mosaic2

A mosaic future? Why not? I had suddenly discovered an ancient art-form that has stood the test of time. I liked its "bigness" and the fact that it has recorded history. People are falling over themselves to find new mosaic treasures in diggings trying to understand other civilizations... and best of all, it was a form that I seemed to have a natural bent for... and I could produce what I wanted... and I wouldn't have to answer to a baby-faced marketing manager... and hopefully I could make a living out of it. People saw my  work and said "you should be doing this full-time"...Read More>>

Is it Worth the Hassle?
by Wally Richards
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Autumn is drawing her cloak around us as winter approaches and for some, problems exist in the garden. The excellent summer we have had, has given us great gardens, being one of the best years for tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, flowers, the list goes on. Good growing times also means an abundance of insect pests such as whitefly, leaf hoppers, caterpillars, the list goes on.
read more>>

Yard Works

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Yardworks has been the natural extension of Waiinu  Beach Quarry for locals Richard and Justine Alexander, who also own and operate Alexander Contracting (A.C.L). The purpose behind Yardworks was to make access to their special Shell Rock products easier for local contractors and businesses, saving people the need to go to the quarry itself.
read more>>
 
Wally's Weekend Work No 12 (22/3/08)
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* This is a good time of the year to take cuttings of the current season's growth of perennials in your garden.

* Lavender, rosemary, verbena and pentstemons all strike well just now and the plants should overwinter well under shelter.

* Geraniums and pelargoniums also strike well now, so take cuttings when the plants are cut back ready for winter.

* Let the cuttings dry out for a day or two before planting. If they are planted as soon as they are cut they often rot.

* A start can be made with taking cuttings of hardwoods too, Black, red and white currants and brambleberries.

Bright Ideas with Lighting Pacific
lighting pacific

The Walkway Light, illustrated here, is one of the most discreet and effective fittings in the Hunza range.

The slender and elegant design of the light enables it to blend perfectly into the background during the day, while at night a maximum 20w light enhances borders, pathways and rockeries.

This type of fitting provides a desirable lighting effect without dominating the landscape.

This is a striking example of the advantage in using accent lighting over bulkhead light sources. Here the Hunza Downlight with a 38 degree beam angle captures the architectural features of the weatherboards on this beautifully renovated family home... read more>>

Thank you for continuing to join us with Groundwork. 
 
Please feel free to send us your comments and feedback. Don't forget, if you have any landscaping or related questions or answers, post them on our notice board.
Regards,
 

Tim Durrant and the Landscapedesign.co.nz Team

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