Landscape Architect Articles

LASN News November, 198811-01-88 | News

1989-90 World Directory of Landscape Architects Now Available

Donald M. Roberts, FASLA, has announced that the First Edition of the World Directory of Landscape Architects is (finally) available. This massive undertaking by Mr. Roberts, Dorothy Kuhn, ASLA, and Aron Roberts, is the completion of over five years work which began at the 1983 IFLA World Meeting.

The data contained in the World Directory is drawn primarily from membership lists of national landscape architecture organizations, or from demographic data supplied by national and international government: agencies.

This directory, the first of its kind, was the result of several peoples efforts worldwide. The networking opportunities provided by this directory are endless and it is the hope of Mr. Roberts that the directory will be used to bring the world of landscape architecture closer together. For more information, or ordering of the Directory, write World Directory of Landscape Architects, PO Box 1148, Tustin, California, 92681.

Midwest Sizzle Damages Nursery Stock

Reports coming from midwest nursery plant producers indicate the recent drought and searing heat may have inflicted heavy damage.

Earl Wells, Executive Vice President of the Orlando-based Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association (FNGA) said indications point to a 30 percent loss of nursery plant materials over a wide spectrum of midwestern states. Most nurseries in the impacted areas do not have irrigation.

Wells said early reports show Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan as being hit hard and other midwestern areas also experiencing damage to plant materials. Landscaping activities also were severely limited during the drought which will hinder plantings before cold weather arrives in some areas.

The SWA Group

The SWA Group, Sausalito office, has won an honor award for planning and design of the Emeryville Peninsula Park & Marina, it was announced recently. The award competition was sponsored by the Waterfront Center, a Washington, D.C. non-profit corporation dedicated to helping communities enhance urban waterfronts. The competition, open to any waterfront project in North America, generated 93 entries from 22 states and three Canadian Provinces. The project won in the Boating Facilities/Marinas category. Hansen/Murakami/Eshima, an architecture, planning, and interior design firm based in Oakland, was prime consultant for the project.

The honor award was presented to Principal Architect John Nelson by Jury Chairman Stuart Dawson of Sasaki Associates, Watertown, Mass. Mr. Nelson accepted the award on behalf of the City of Emeryville (John Flores, City Manager), and the SWA Group.

Aquapore Offers Subsurface Landscape Watering System

A new subsurface watering system designed especially for the professional landscaper is available from Aquapore, a specialist in landscape watering technology.

How It Works

Using commercial grade tubing composed of rubber and polyethelene, the Aquapore Landscape Watering System distributes water evenly through a unique “sweating” action. Once placed in the soil, the pipe acts as a wick, replacing water used by trees, turf, plants and shrubs. As a result, water, oxygen, and nutrients are spread slowly and uniformly to the root zone.

Features & Benefits

By sending water directly to the most critical area, the Landscape Watering System prevents wet/dry cycles and water loss due to evaporation. The result: up to 70 percent reduction in replacement plantings and callbacks due to improper watering.

Using Aquapore’s subsurface pipe also eliminates problems encountered with above ground systems, including vandalism, splash-transmitted diseases and interiorscape mold and mildew. And because there are no bubblers, emitters or sprinkler heads, the Landscape Watering System produces an aesthetically pleasing effect.

Professional landscapers using the Landscape Watering System will have the edge when making competitive bids and will be able to extend their planting season throughout the hot months of the year. The system can be assembled in a matter of minutes and can be easily hooked up to an outside water source or existing sprinklers.

Aquapore’s Landscape Watering System provides an efficient and cost-effective means to reach flower and shrub beds, p and is ideally suited for franchises, office buildings, malls, hotels, condominiums, apartment complexes and median strips.

Aquapore engineers have designed a product which is considerably superior to any similar product on the market today. Aquapore has learned, by approaching the matter scientifically and professionally, how to produce a system that assures efficient water distribution resulting in healthier plantings.

For more information about our Landscape Watering Systems, contact Skip Shipman at Moisture Systems, Inc., 39 New London Turnpike, Suite 327,Glastonbury, CT 06033, or call (203) 633-3934.

Sunbelt Trees Hosts The All Japan Tree Growers Association

Cameras clicked and exotic looking notes were scribbled as the 130 members of the ALL JAPAN TREE GROWERS ASSOCIATION toured the Sunbelt Trees 40 acre production nursery near Houston. Carl McCord, owner of Sunbelt Trees, was flattered to be chosen as the only large container-grown tree nursery selected by the Japanese during their two week tour of nurseries and botanical gardens in the United States.

John Clifton, Vice President and Manager of the facility, noted the Japanese nurserymen were impressed with our large container-grown trees.

We split up into several groups to tour the facility and most of the people with Carl indicated they grew trees only in the ground. A few of my group produced container trees.”

Does this mean the Japanese will soon be shipping cameras and live oaks to the U. S.? Not really. Shipping costs on a 100gallon container-grown live oak would be prohibitive.

Most of these visitors were hoping to improve their growing operations for the market back home. Some were already involved in a big way. One man had a 100acre nursery producing one billion plants per year.

Carol and John noted that their questions were concentrated on the business and technological aspects of container nursery production. “They wanted to know about irrigation systems, fertilization, and especially about the large containers and where to buy them. They also asked about prices.”

Few of the visitor spoke any English, so there were a half dozen tour guides/interpreters along to translate. The tour lasted for several hours after which Sunbelt hosted a Texas-style barbecue. Then, of course, there were the usual group photos.

The Japanese delegation, put together by Yoshikazu Yamamoto presented Sunbelt with a beautiful set of books on landscape plants in Japan. Then they got back on the buses for a visit to a Houston area retail nursery.

If the copious notes and hundreds of photos taken were any indication, the Japanese delegation of nurserymen took home a lot of ideas from one of America’s top container tree nurseries.

Sprinkler World of Arizona

Sprinkler World of Arizona, the 1987 Hunter Industries’ Distributor of the Year, was recently named a Master Distributor for Hunter Institutional Series Sprinklers for the Arizona region.

“This new Hunter marketing program gives Sprinkler World an opportunity to better serve the specification market,” announced Chuck Huston, Hunter National Sales Manager.

“As a Master Distributor, Sprinkler World will be more responsive to contractors preparing bids for sports fields, golf courses, park and recreation facilities and other institutional applications.”

The Master Distributor designation was awarded to Sprinkler World in recognition of their outstanding sales and promotion of Hunter sprinklers, said Huston.

The new Master Distributor program is only available with Hunter Institutional Series products, including the 1-10, 1-20, 1-25, 1-40, 1-42 High Speed, and 1-44 Sod Cup Sprinklers.

Bomanite Popular In North Texas

With the economic situation what it is in the North Texas area, many landscape architects are turning to North Texas Bomanite to take the place of more expensive products for everything from street medians to entryways.

With more than 13 impressions from which to choose, North Texas Bomanite can offer the landscape architect all kinds of alternatives which will answer the desires of the client and at the same time, offer a beautifully designed area at a cost many times less than granite or some other stone product.

Bomanite is now producing their own colors to add to the concrete and hundreds of options are possible, according to Howard Sigler, President of North Texas Bomanite.

To contact North Texas Bomanite, call 214/324-2991 or write P. O. Box 595218, Dallas, Texas 75214 for further information.

Rain Bird Introduces New R-70 Sports Turf Rotor

Glendora, CA?EUR??,,????'??+Rain Bird’s new R-70 Rotor, featuring outstanding close-in watering and a superior distance of throw, is designed for operation in any large turf grass application. Ideal for sports fields, parks and industrial sites, the R-70 combines a variety of state-of-the-art features to ensure reliable, efficient performance.

The R-70’s self-cleaning, water-lubricated piston drive allows sandy or effluent water to pass straight through the rotor, minimizing costly service and downtime. In addition, the piston drive uses less than two percent of the water passing through the unit to drive the head, increasing distance of throw without increasing pressure requirements.

The unique design of the R-70’s color-coded, interchangeable nozzles contributes to the increased distance of throw by minimizing water turbulence. The nozzles also ensure excellent close-in watering by providing improved water distribution from the rotor to the end of the stream.

Other features of the R-70 Rotor include Rain Bird’s exclusive Seal-A-Matic

(SAM) check valve, which ensures zero water loss by eliminating low head drainage. The SAM device can hold up to 15 feet of head. A low angle of trajectory (23 degrees) and a constant rotation speed mean minimal wind interference and water loss, as well as even distribution that is not affected by pressure fluctuations.

For added safety and vandal resistance – the R-70 features a small, 21/2-inch exposed case diameter. In addition, an optional rubber cap provides extra protection against injury.

Available in full and part circle models, the R-70 Rotor has a maximum pop-up height of 3 1/4 inches, making it ideal for all grass. Arc adjustment of 15 to 355 degrees on the part circle model requires no tools.

For more information on Rain Bird’s new R70 Rotor, write Rain Bird Sales, Inc., Turf Division, 145 N. Grand Ave., Glendora, Calif. 91740.

New From Pepco

Pepco has introduced a new green “Extra High Flow” Quadra Bubbler, expanding its line of Quadra Bubblers to four. Pictured from left to right are the four color-coded models of Quadra Bubblers that provide low, medium, high and extra high flows.

High-Speed 1-42 Sprinkler Introduced By Hunter

Hunter Industries has introduced the gear-driven Model 1-42, a high-rotation speed sprinkler especially developed for irrigation situations where a fast, light application of water is desired.

This includes syringing golf greens and lightly irrigating clay tennis courts, skinned baseball diamonds and horse tracks. The 1-42 is also used for frost control.

The 1-42 has a 4-inch pop-up stroke and incorporates all the standard features of Hunter’s Institutional Series, including a safety cushioned rubber cover, locking body cap, and slip clutch protected drive system. It has a five-year over-the-counter warranty.

The interchangeable nozzle/stator set supplied with each sprinkler allows the discharge rate to be adjusted from 6.5 to 25.8 GPM. The 1-42 is available in 17 fixed arcs of coverage and a full circle.

For additional information on the 1-42 sprinkler, see your local Hunter distributor or contact Hunter Industries directly at 1940 Diamond Street, San Marcos, CA 92069. FAX 619-744-7461.

Rvc Radio Valve Control Introduced By Irri-Trol

Valencia, CA – The Irri-trol RVC Radio Valve Control. A flexible and energy efficient remote control unit which works with virtually all types and brands of irrigation controllers, has been introduced by the Turf Products Division of GardenAmerica.

A hand-held transmitter allows the user wide-ranging mobility in field operation and individual transmission and receiving codes ensure complete security. Available in 12-,24 and 36-station models, the solid-state RVC operates effectively up to one mile from the controller?EUR??,,????'??+regardless of buildings or other obstacle interference. Any number of stations (within the maximum offered by that model and water availability) may be activated in any order.

For more information on the RVC Radio Valve Control, contact GardenAmerica Corporation, Turf Products Division, 27940 Beale Court, Valencia, Calif., 91355.