Rock Gardens are one of the most effective landscaping features.
They also provide that all elusive curb-appeal that adds signicant value to a home at minimal cost.
There are few features in the garden that provide such a variety of interests in so little space as a well-planned and carefully planted rock garden.
The smallest plot may contain a rock garden which will house a representative and charming collection of alpine plants; but, on the other hand, there are few features in the ordinary garden that are so neglected and so ill-understood.
It must be remembered that the chief function of the rock garden is to provide the plants grown in it with conditions, so far as possible, similar to those existing in their natural haunts.
The alpines and high alpines are the most typical of all rock plants and are mostly natives of the high mountain crags and screes of the Alps and Himalayas.
The ideal rock garden, therefore, should, so far as possible, provide the soil and natural conditions pertaining in these regions.
During the short alpine summer the plants are subjected to fierce and baking sun; many of them, therefore, have thick leaves covered with down or hair to protect them from its shrivelling rays.
The roots, too, at this time need ample moisture, and this is provided by the melting of the snows on the mountain tops, whence it permeates through the scree of the moraine.
Also, to live in their natural haunts they require to be very deep and strong rooted, very often with a much greater root run than the foliage and flowers which their roots support.
Enjoy. DT.
Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
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Desert Luxury at the J.W. Marriott in Las Vegas
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The JW Marriott in Summerlin, a northwest suburb of Las Vegas, has a huge ceiling lobby, providing a cool, North African/Mediterranean type of desert motif. There is plentiful natural lighting and real jungly plants, making the luxury resort glow in the late afternoon like sundown on the sand dunes, when the day relents to the evening Saharan brilliant night sky.
Book The JW Marriott In Las Vegas
In certain parts of the Sahara it has not rained for ten thousand years, and lately in Vegas, it has been eerily rain sparse. While staying at the JW Marriott, which is actually a Canadian managed brand of the Marriott chain, I felt like I was in a 1930's newsreel, with the Marriott reminiscent of a Moroccan grand dame frontier fort, something out of Beau Gest. It is a wonderful resort sitting out amongst the retirementville enclave of Summerlin - giving it a sentinel loneliness, like the French Foreign Legion post that Gary Cooper left at the end of the movie Morocco, with Marlena Deitrich trailing forlorn and behind.
Where is Summerlin? Summerin is a 36 square mile, master planned community developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation. For many years Summerlin was ranked as the nation's best selling master planned community, according to an independent survey by Robert Charles Lesser & Company, a leading national real estate consultant.
There are actually two hotels here, or I should say two six-story towers, with 541 guest rooms and suites, located on the south and west end of the immense resort. I heard through the grapevine that other towers are planned. The Spa Tower has 286 rooms and suites The Palms Tower with 255 rooms and suites. Guest rooms offer interior views of the gardens or panoramic views of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the west. Rent a bike or hike the area. You can see the glistening lights of Vegas to the east, because you are actually in the foothills of the Redrock area, known for it's outstanding climbing routes.
The size of the guest rooms average about 560 square feet, and are very comfortable, with either king, queen or twin beds.What I really liked about the room was the huge Jacuzzi tub that you could lay down in. Ahhh - now that is pleasure!
Pool and Gardens - The elaborate $12.5 million complex of gardens and pools covers acres. The gardens include an 11,000 square foot grass edged pool with waterfall and four 25-yard swimming lanes, plus two 250-square foot spa pools equipped with handicap lifts. The Marriott Las Vegas is landscaped with 3,500 trees, including more than 800 palms, and features a $1.5 million lighting system. There is 24-hour valet parking service.
My usual first stop at a hotel is the in-house lounge. This is where you get the latest lounge lizard and bartender's versions of how to run a good hotel, and the chance to check out the out-of-towners. It is my Nielsen poll.
The chit chat was subdued and sublime, with a shift change, so there wasn't much coming forth with from the lounge bartender, just golf talk from a couple of packaged vacationers. After no major breaking news bulletins issued at the cozy lobby bar, I quickly drained my Heineken and spun away across the blond hardwood floors that could serve double duty in a line dance venue.
There are several restaurant presently at the JW Marriott. That evening I was inducted into fine Italian dining at Ceres, a formal and sedate dining venue - a sort of continental European atmosphere, with a very formal staff, held in check by the prim and proper restaurant manager, a step back to a Casablanca film figure. There we are back in Morocco. I really like Ceres, and they have a special room out towards the back of the restaurant that is private, but it was very hot - this was the last legs of summer. So I shed my jacket like snakeskin.
Ceres, in the Spa Tower, overlooks waterfalls and the garden and serves classic seafood dishes. Ceres also has a five seat section with a large paned glass looking on to the furiously working chefs. The chefs bring items to the glass for the diners to check, and they explain how things are prepared. It was a unique touch. You can sample the food, too.
This is Ceres' claim to fame - and it is fame well deserved, so pass it around to your friends.
* King Crab Mediterranean Seafood Stew.
* One pound of Alaska King Crab Legs.
* Pan-Seared Oregano Salmon, with Citrus Pine Nut Toasted Israeli Couscous. with Olive Roman Tomatoes, and Italian Parsley Butter Broth.
* Other fare includes Sea Bass, Snapper, Seafood Scampi, Lamb Chops, Steaks, Lobsters.
Everthing is served elegantly at Ceres. I picked the Salmon, just because it sounded the most elegant. When it arrived, it was seared perfectly, crispy outside, and flakey on the inside, just the way I like it. Take the Oyster Rockefeller for an appetizer.
Many of the other restaurants along the Promenade
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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
About the AuthorKriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
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| Rock Gardening... |
Rock your garden with some good-sized stones
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Figure eight school bus derby in Flat Rock
Back to school so it's time for school bus racing at the Flat Rock Speedway! The popular Pepsi School Bus Figure 8 races and the Street Stocks will hit the track next Saturday, September 9, 2006. The reserved seating sections...
African American Dating Services
Sensible and right they are very on Figure 9 shows the amount figure 9 the bottom panel of From deep underground rather than from the air the gas within bubbles in the rock is when this does happen, it is usually because
Kutak Rock COLA Chart for 2007 Also Shows How 2008, 2009 and 2010 Figures Will Be Calculated
For each of the as-yet undetermined limitation figures, the chart prepared by the Kutak Rock law firm contains a handy brief explanation of how each particular figure will be calculated for 2008 and future years. For example, some figures are indexed in $500 increments; others in increments of $1,000 or $5,000, etc. (Kutak Rock LLP)
Very Cute (Review of Japanese Tea Garden)
Author: Jolene G. Review of: Japanese Tea Garden This little tea garden is an amazing little garden. Please be sure to take atleast a half hour to walk the whole garden and make sure you have a full hour if you plan to stay and have tea. The garden itself is full of beautiful flowers and trees. They even have a little house (not sure what to call it ) that is Japanese in style. They also have a large bronze figure of budda. Check out this site for more info http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Japanese_Tea_Garden.html
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THE MINIATURE ROCK GARDEN
Of recent years this type of indoor-gardening has become a source of great interest to amateurs.
It consists of a rock garden in miniature constructed in some suitable receptacle, usually a large earthenware pan. This, however, is not essential; in fact, the little plants are much more effective when displayed in an old pig trough or stone sink.
These may be picked up at any country sale for a few dollars; those found in many parts of the country are particularly beautiful, being hewn out of solid limestone or sandstone. Sinks are especially adaptable, as they already have the outlet; the troughs would have to be bored to provide for the necessary drainage of the soil.
Construction.-The stone used in the construction of the small rockery usually consists of rugged pieces of limestone or sandstone, although these are not essential. Cork-bark or old clinker burrs dipped in cement wash of the right colour make most realistic weather-worn stones, and very often give a much more picturesque effect.
A most important point to be considered is suitable drainage, and this may be secured by putting two inches or more of broken crocks, cinders, etc., over the bottom of the trough: the thickness of the layer depending largely upon the depth of the container.
Cover this coarse drainage with a sprinkling of finer material to prevent the soil from sifting down and clogging the drainage. Over this spread a layer of half-rotted leaves; these will tend to retain a certain amount of moisture, and will also assist in keeping the soil from mixing with the drainage. Fill the remainder of the trough with soil to within half an inch of the rim so that, when watering, the water will not wash the soil over the side.
The compost should be of a gritty nature, something on the following lines: one-third part loam, one-sixth part leaf-mould, one-third part quarter-inch chips and sand, and one-sixth part peat.
This may be varied to suit the particular requirements of the plants grown. Two to three inches of soil will provide ample rooting medium for the plants.
Continued from ...Rock Gardens - How to Plant Them by A. Edwards
Rock Gardens | Rock Gardening Design
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