Singapore's Gardens by the Bay Photos

Gardens By The Bay

Singapore hopes to become the garden of the world with its iconic Gardens by Sprinkler System Installation the Bay, the latest project to transform Singapore into a city within a garden.

Grant Associates/Craig Sheppard

Gardens By The Bay

The project cost $810 million to build, really does have the wow factor, taking up the space the size of 177 football fields and housing 80 percent of the world's plant species. This is not your mother's garden.

Grant Associates/Craig Sheppard

Gardens By The Bay

The skyline of the city has been altered with 18 giant structures dubbed "supertrees." These vertical gardens are as tall as 55 meters, and are equipped with solar panels and a rainwater catchment system.

Grant Sprinkler System Flower Mound Associates/Darren Chin

Gardens By The Bay

The two conservatories recreate a temperate climate in the heart of the tropics.

Grant Associates/Craig Sheppard

Gardens By The Bay

These conservatories are the world's biggest glass houses, housing more than 10,000 plants, and helping to define Singapore as a garden city.

Grant Associates

Gardens By The Bay

Visitors can walk in the canopy of the supertrees atop a skywalk nearly 150 feet off the ground.

Carrie Halperin/ABC News

Gardens By The Bay

T he supertrees, designed by Grant Associates, are embedded with sustainable energy technologies that are in integral part of cooling the conservatories.

Grant Associates

Gardens By The Bay

During the day, the supertrees' large canopies provide shade and shelter. At night, the supertrees come alive with lighting and projected media created.



Grant Associates

Gardens By The Bay

More than 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers http://ambler.temple.edu/events/ambler-campus-shofuso-japanese-house-and-garden-tour will be planted on the 18 supertrees.



Carrie Halperin/ABC News

Gardens By The Bay

Visitors can walk among plants from across the globe without stepping off the island.

Grant Associates/Craig Sheppard

Gardens By The Bay

The internal gardens and landscapes are designed by Grant Associa tes in collaboration with Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Grant Associates

Gardens By The Bay

An illustration of the Gardens by the Bay.

Grant Associates

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/photos/singapores-gardens-bay-16828787

Urban farming covers an area the size of Europe, more growth needed

ROME, Nov 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - City dwellers

are growing their own food on a much greater scale than

previously thought, farming an area the size of the European

Union, according to the first comprehensive study on the global

scale of urban agriculture.

Most of the land - which totals some 456 million hectares -

lies just outside of cities, although 67 million hectares of it

is being farmed in urban centres, the study published in the

November issue of the journal Environmental Research Letters

found.

"It is surprising to see how much the farm is definitely

getting closer to the table," Pay Drechsel, a co-author of the

study and a scientist at the International Water Management

Institute, said in a press release.

Urban farms typically grow relatively expensive foods, like

fresh vegetables, compared with the wheat or rice which are

usually produced on large rura l holdings.

In sub-Saharan Africa urban farmers supply up to 90 percent

of the leafy salad greens consumed in the region's fast-growing

cities.

In Ghana, some 2,000 urban vegetable farmers are supplying

greens to 800,000 people every day, Drechsel said.

In Accra, Ghana's capital, urban farms recycle more waste

water than local treatment plants, re-using about 10 percent of

household wastewater and helping to keep the city a little

cleaner.



The study's findings are good news for food security a s the

planet's population becomes increasingly urbanised.

The world's urban population increased from 2.86 billion in

2000 to 3.88 billion in 2014, according to the World Health

Organization.



Today, 54 percent of the world's population live in urban

areas, and that number is predicted to increase to 66 percent by

2050, with much of the growth in developing countries, according

to U.N. figures.

Urban farming, however, still has a perception problem,

especially in developing countries where it is most necessary.

"We see this dichotomy where urban farming in wealthy

countries is praised for reducing emissions and enhancing a

green economy, while in developing countries, it can be regarded

as an inconvenient vestige of rural life that http://www.hgtv.com/design/topics/landscaping stands in the way

of Sprinkler Installation Denton modernisation," Drechsel said.

"That's an attitude Sprinkler Installation Denton that needs to change."

(Reporting by Chris Arsenault; editing by Alex Whiting)

http://www.reuters.com/article/global-urban-farming-idUSL6N0T33NX20141113

'Avant gardens': When art, design and plants collide

Designers of the past -- who were concerned with verdant lawns, traditional flowerbeds and tasteful ornaments -- would barely recognize the experimental gardens of today.

"Garden design has always been quite a traditional discipline, says Sprinkler System Madison Cox, a garden designer and part of http://cyclandscaping.com/ the team behind a new book, The Gardener's Garden.

"Gardens are in a constant state of flux, and you can only do what the plants allow you to do. So it changes less rapidly than painting, sculpture or architecture, as it takes longer to experiment."

There have been other restrictions, too. In the past, garden design was limited by the plants available, as it was difficult to access plants that did not grow indigenously.

But now, says Cox, the "plant vocabulary" has increased.

"Go to any garden center in England, Italy, America or e lsewhere, and you'll find plants from all over the world," he says.

This -- together with the influence of radical breakthroughs in the Sprinkler System Installation disciplines of painting, sculpture and music -- has allowed a new generation of gardeners to create spaces that owed more to the imagination than tradition.

The birth of a new experimental art form

It started with experiments like Lotusland, an extravagant garden in Santa Barbara, California that was created in the latter half of the 20th Century by Madame Ganna Walska, an eccentric opera singer. It contains exotic plants from all over the world, set in fantasy contexts.

"It's completely mad," says Cox. "The section called the Blue Garden, for instance, has many blue plants and blue-colored slag from a Coca-Cola bottling plant on the ground. The effect is this weird, underwater, blue light, that is at the same time eerie and soothing."



Similarly, Marjorelle -- a public garden in Marrakech, Morocco, that attracts about 730,000 visitors a year -- showcases plants that are almost completely devoid of vivid color, and resembles a world of grays, light greens and pale blues.

"The only color comes from things that are not natural, like painted surfaces and pottery," says Cox.

Taking design to the next level

In Kent, England, the garden that belonged to movie director Derek Jarman eschews grass and traditional trees to embrace flotsam, weeds and found objects, creating a space that is in many ways closer to a movie set than a garden.

Modern experimental designers have been taking things to another level. The Red Sand Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, resembles a martian landscape, complete with rock circles, curving escarpments and striking forms and foliage.

However, modern avant garde designers are not completely free from all constraints. "In today's world, we have other pressing environmental issues, such as water conservation," says Cox. "Designers need to consider what is appropriate to the specific climatic conditions they are working in. This is of vital importance."

The heart of any garden

Ultimately, he says, a garden is a garden if it represents a retreat from the world.



"In recent years there has been an explosion of creativity," he says , "but we have never lost that sense that garden is a paradise, a retreat from the world, and an alternative to our normal surroundings and chaotic lives.

"That has always been the point of a garden, and that will never change."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/travel/when-art-design-and-plants-collide/index.html

John Deere Landscapes Unveils New Name as SiteOne Landscape Supply

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Deere Landscapes today unveiled its new name and logo as SiteOne

Landscape Supply, effective October 19. The new brand represents the

next step for SiteOne as an independent company after its acquisition by

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in December 2013. With over 460 locations in

the U.S. and Canada, SiteOne is the largest wholesale distributor of

landscape supplies for green industry professionals in North America,

including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. SiteOne will formally

introduce customers to the new brand at the GIE+EXPO in Louisville,

Kentucky.

"As a market leader, our vision is to make our customers the most

successful landscaping professionals in the green industry--and that's

what our new brand represents," said Doug Black, SiteOne's chief

executive officer. "We have over 2,500 passionate and knowledgeable

associates across North America, all focused on the success of our

customers. The new brand reflects our unique position as the only

national full-line provider of landscaping products which, along with

the deep knowledge and state-of-the-art solutions that we offer, will

form our foundation for future growth."

SiteOne's tagline, "Stronger Together" defines its partnerships with

customers, associates, suppliers and communities, and its commitment to

excellence in product offerings and service delivery. "By working

together with our suppliers and customers we can achieve great things

for all st akeholders," said Black.

The rebranding effort began shortly after the purchase of John Deere

Landscapes by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. SiteOne performed an extensive

18-month branding process, which included gathering input from

associates, suppliers, customers and key stakeholders. The brand roll

out will be completed by December. "We have an exciting new look, with

the same exceptional associates who will continue to deliver http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sprinkler the high

quality products and services our customers know and trust," Black said.



About SiteOne Landscape Supply LLC

SiteOne Landscape Supply

(formerly John Deere Landscapes) is North America's leading wholesale

distributor of landscape supplies for green industry professionals

including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. With over 460 locations

in the U.S. and Canada, the broadest product and service offerings, and

over 2,500 knowledgeable associates, SiteOne is committed to making its

customers the most successful landscape professionals in the green

industry.



http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150814005051/en/John-Deere-Landscapes-Unveils-SiteOne-Landscape-Supply

Protesters chase after indicted Texas deputy and husband

Dozens of protesters chased after a Houston-area sheriff's deputy and her husband following their court appearance Tuesday on murder charges in the death of a man they confronted outside a restaurant.

At one point, the protesters surrounded the car the couple entered outside the courthouse and temporarily blocked it from driving off.

Attorneys for Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Chauna Thompson and her husband, Terry Thompson, said Tuesday prosecutors rushed to present the case to a grand jury and did so because of the couple's ties to law enforcement.

The couple is accused of causing the death of John Hernandez, 24, who died three days after the May 28 confrontation outside a Denny's restaurant in Sheldon, located 17 miles (27 kilometers) northeast of Houston.

The couple made their first court appearance in the case Tuesday since each was indicted for murder last week. The Thompsons said little during the hearing and didn't enter pleas. Chauna Thompson has been suspended from her job without pay.

About 60 protesters were outside the courthouse during the hearing, some holding signs saying, "Justice for John."

When the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc Thompsons left the courthouse and walked to a waiting car, protesters followed, with many chanting "murderers" in Spanish. Some protesters slammed their fists on the hood or kicked the sides of the vehicle.



Deputies had to move the protesters so the car could dri ve away.

Ramon Hernandez, John Hernandez's 73-year-old grandfather and who was one of the protesters on Tuesday, said he's upset how the case has been handled, believing the Thompsons have received special treatment.

"Nobody does anything. They are protecting them. That's why I feel bad," he said in Spanish.

But attorneys for the Thompsons contend the deputy and her husband have been treated unfairly in the case.

"My client probably would not be indicted but for her job title," attorney Greg Cagle, who represents Chauna Thompson, 45, said following the hearing.

Attorney Scot Courtney, who is representing Terry Thompson, 41, said he's "never seen a case taken to a grand jury this quickly."

The Harris County District Attorney's Office denied the claims, saying prosecutors are dedicated to an orderly process in the case.

Authorities allege Terry Thompson confronted an intoxicated Hernandez after seeing him urinate in public and placed hi m in a chokehold. Chauna Thompson, who was off duty at the time, arrived later to help her husband subdue and restrain Hernandez. Cagle contends that Chauna Thompson barely touched Hernandez.

Hernandez was hospitalized and died on May 31. A medical examiner ruled that he died of lack of oxygen to the brain caused by strangulation and chest compression.

The Thompsons, who are each free on $100,000 bonds, will next be in court on July 14.

Hernandez's family late Monday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Thompsons, asking for at least $1 million in damages.

Cagle said he had not yet seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.

Randall Kallinen, an attorney for the Hernandez family, alleges the actions of deputies who investigated the case, including not interviewing all potential witnesses at the scene, are examples of preferential treatment Chauna Thompson and her husband received. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is conducting an internal aff airs review of the actions of deputies who responded to the scene.

The Thompsons "should have been arrested at the scene. I don't know what the quick rush to judgment is," Kallinen said.

Sandra Guerra Thompson, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center who is not related to Chauna and Terry Thompson, said she wasn't surprised that the case went before a grand jury a little over a week after Hernandez's death because it was "not a super complicated case." She said if https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc it had been an officer-involved shooting, such a case would have probably taken longer to present to a grand jury because it would require more investigation and review of evidence.

----

Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70



http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/protest-held-texas-deputy-husband-court-death-48012350

Orange Glo(R) Now Cleans Every Hard Surface Floor in Homes; Trusted Wood Expert Answers Consumer Demand for Laminate, Vinyl, Tile and Other Hard Surfaces

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2006--Orange Glo International introduces the Orange Glo Laminate, Vinyl, Tile & More Floor Care System, continuing its mission to quickly answer consumers' needs with innovative and effective cleaning products. This addition rounds out the hard surface floor care offerings provided by the Orange Glo brand, following the successful launch of the Orange Glo Hardwood Floor Care System last year.

"Last year, we were flooded with consumer calls, letters and e-mails asking for a floor care system that could be used on laminate, tile and vinyl floors," said Jason Williams, Strategic Business Unit Leader for Orange Glo. "To answer the demand, we responded quickly to create an all-in-one system specially formulated for those surfaces. Our new system is incredible, offering not only amazing cleaning results, but also a beautiful shine and protection for hard surface floors."

Laminate flooring continues to be the fastest-growing hard surface flooring in America. Despite laminate's popularity, the most common flooring in America continues to be vinyl. Moreover, nearly every home has multiple flooring surfaces. Orange Glo is the first brand to offer consumers all-in-one, complete solutions to clean, shine and protect the hard surfaces in homes, from hardwood to vinyl to tile.



"Floors are a design focal point in any room, and a significant investment for homeowners, so it pays to give them a little tender loving care. I'm excited about Orange Glo's Floor Care Systems because everything you need is in one kit," said JoAnne Liebeler, a renovation and design expert and television personality. "There are three steps to keepi ng floor surfaces looking great. You start by dry-mopping to trap dust and dirt, follow up with a deep cleaning, and finally, apply a protective shine. It's great that Orange Glo has developed a convenient, all-in-one kit that addresses these needs. You get professional looking results -- at a fraction of the cost."

The Orange Glo Laminate, Vinyl, Tile & More Floor Care System provides the following:



-- A new high performance, reusable and washable Allura(TM) fiber Everyday Dusting Pad. The pad features a permanent electrostatic charge that grabs and traps pet hair, dust and dirt.

-- A 22 oz. Laminate, Vinyl, Tile & More Floor Cleaner and corresponding Allura(TM) fiber Cleaning Pad, specially formulated and designed to clean tough soils and grease on many floor types, without https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQK4Bl3s_I leaving a dulling residue. The cleaning pad has five million microfibers, providing 30 times more surface area than ordinary cleaning cloths and pads, for a quick, easy and effective deep cleaning.

-- An 8 oz. Revita-Shine(TM) formula and Allura(TM) fiber Refinishing Pad to apply a protective shine coat that not only revitalizes the beauty of your floors, but also safeguards floors from daily wear and tear and contains UV and scratch protectants.

-- The same user-friendly three-piece mop offered in the Orange Glo Hardwood Floor Care System. The pressure-lock pole and low-profile swivel mop head effectively cleans hard-to-reach a reas under cabinets and furniture, and maneuvers around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQK4Bl3s_I baseboards and corners.

The Orange Glo Laminate, Vinyl, Tile & More Floor Care System is available nationwide in K-Mart, Target and other grocery and specialty channels. Suggested retail price for the kit is $17.99. The 22 oz. Floor Cleaner can be purchased separately for $4.49 and the 24 oz. Revita-Shine is available for $6.39. For more information on the Orange Glo Floor Care Systems or to purchase them online, go to www.cleanshineprotect.com.

About Orange Glo International

Orange Glo International is one of the world's fastest-growing consumer products companies because of its ability to consistently delight customers with new products for laundry, multiple surfaces and the bathroom. Since 1987, the makers of Oxiclean(R), Orange Glo(R) and Kaboom(R) have provided products that meet consumer demands an d force competitors to copy their amazing results. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and distributes their products to more than 30 countries worldwide.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060308005695/en/Orange-Glo-Cleans-Hard-Surface-Floor-Homes