Lawns can be more than just a lawn in a garden.
A garden is are considered to be made up of trees, plants, flowers and flower beds. Certainly all of these elements are an integral and important part of a garden. Sometimes, lawns are sometimes looked upon as just the green stuff, the filler if you will between the flamboyant and colourful beds of well-designed and beautiful flowers and shrubs.
But, in reality, the lawn is more than just filler. It is the adhesive that binds all these sometimes diverse and varied elements together. The lawn can be a frame for the flowers. And, it can be the canvas on which the garden is painted.
We visited the Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina a few years ago. Here in addition to being the background for the camellias and azaleas, the lawns are also there to enhance the many figurative statues that grace the 9,200 acre site.
The photo I took is of the The Live Oak Allee garden. These 250 year old live oaks trees were planted in the early 1700s when Brookgreen Gardens was a thriving rice plantation. These inspiring matriarchs frame this garden space like a living cathedral. But here, also the lawn is an important element in allowing the visitor to take in all the beauty.
For more about lawns visit
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Art of More Paths
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
"MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS"
On November 20, 2007, the following headline appeared on the Premier's website.
"MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL TOXIN"
Part of the election promise was "Legislation to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides to be introduced in the spring of 2008."
Between now and February 17, 2008 the Environmental Registry is accepting public comment on just how this legislation should be crafted.
This is what the website lists the purpose of the proposal and contains a link where comments can be submitted.
If you have any questions you would like Turf King to answer, please email us at hamilton@turf-king.ca or visit our website to send us a comment.
www.hamiltonturfking.ca
The purpose of this proposal is to inform the public of the government's policy intent to implement a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, and solicit feedback from the public as the government considers policy options relating to the following:
1. Determining the Scope of the Ban
The proposed ban would apply to cosmetic uses of pesticides, those intended to improve the appearance of lawns, gardens, parks and school yards. Do you have any comments on the proposed scope?
The proposed ban would allow pesticides to be used in situations where it is warranted to help ensure public health (for example, to fight West Nile virus). Are there other situations where the use of pesticides should be allowed?
2. Sale of Cosmetic Pesticides
Other jurisdictions have banned the sale of pesticides used solely for cosmetic purposes while municipalities in Ontario have regulated the use of certain pesticides . Should the province consider banning the sale of those pesticides used solely for cosmetic purposes?
3. Exemptions/Restrictions
It is proposed that uses of pesticides for the purposes of agriculture and managed forests would be exempt, as they are already governed by stringent rules on the storage and application of pesticides.
The government indicated that the focus of the ban would be on “towns and cities, and not on restrictions on rural residents.” Do you have any comments on this approach?
4. Exemptions for Golf Courses
It is proposed that golf courses would also be exempt, but would be required to develop plans to limit the environmental impact of pesticides. Should the government consider setting out minimum requirements for the plans developed by golf course owners/operators? What should the requirements include?
5. Timing
The government proposes to introduce legislation in the spring of 2008, with a phased-in implementation (e.g. 3 years).
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Old Garden Paths
It's amazing how garden paths can meander through the trees and flowers. Views and perspectives change as you move down the trail. Around the corner, a new vista greets you. As time passes, the garden changes. First there is the seasonal change, winter changes into spring with its many blossoms and blooms. Summer bursts upon you with sudden heat. Then fall slowly creeps up with its colourful array of autumn colours. Lawn Care Sneezin'
The Holiday season has quietly slipped out the back door and it's back to the ongoing task of preparing for the next lawn care season. Even though the grass is covered with a white woolly blanket of snow, it time to prepare for getting ready for next year, (sorry strike that out, it is next year).
Southern Ontario has had a fair sprinkling of fresh snow in the last few days. And although they are predicting a couple of days of extremely cold nights, the forecast is also calling for temperatures to rise to 10 degrees early next week.
The old body is trying to keep healthy in spite of the ups and downs of the thermometer, the wind chill factors and the depth of the snow. And the snow shovel goes up and down or maybe back and forth. The old ticker's heart rate also goes up when the shovelling is tough and slows down when the arms need to rest. All this exertion can lead to seasonal colds and flu's which in turn often turns into coughing and sneezing.
Some of our competitors will be on the phone soon, calling and bothering homeowners about their lawns. Turf King Hamilton does not telemarket the general public. Your privacy and respect are important to us. We want to treat you as we would like to be treated- and we don't like to be called by telemarketers at suppertime.
Last month the CRTC announced that Bell will administer the Do-Not-Call list for Canada. While this list was announced a while ago, the wheels of bureaucracy are slowly turning and things should be in place by next fall.
In the meantime, if someone does call you, and you want a second opinion on your lawn, please give us a call.
