Simply speaking, a green roof is a living roof. While green roof design has its roots in ancient civilizations (think hanging gardens of Babylon), as American cities have become more concerned about managing quantities of stormwater runoff, air quality, and building heat transfer, large modern green roofs have been appearing on commercial properties across the country. Now, FLOWER ot the PEOPLE, Inc. has green roof solutions specifically designed for Southern California private residences. Here the Beverly Hills green roof at Greystone Manor Estate is still growing strong more than two years after its installation. Succulent-covered roofs, like the one at Greystone and the green roofs pictured here, even provide a fire-retarding alternative to traditional shake or stone roofs.

A living roof provides superior energy efficiency for any building (saving on energy costs), extends the life of the roof membrane, is beautiful to look at, provides the local environment with beneficial air-cleaning, cooling and storm water reduction, and promotes greater biodiversity.

Green Roof Section View

1 roof flashing

2 EPDM waterproof membrane

3 root barrier

4 drainage mat

5 "L" sheet metal edge

6 1/2" pea gravel

7 nonwoven separation fabric

8 planting media

9 plants

10 gutter (optional)

It's delightful to discover a thriving treasure-- whether it is a garden or a business!  Flower to the People is such a treasure right in my own community!  Visit their website for a delightful array of garden designs that bring nature and sustainable gardening solutions to the urban landscape.  Their "Exterior Design Portfolio" in particular is expansive and a bloomin' delight!

Flower to the People is located in West Los Angeles, CA at:

11409 Charnock Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90066

FLOWER to the PEOPLE is a sustainable exterior design and outdoor lifestyle firm. Their residential and commercial clients rely on them to create unique environmentally-friendly exterior spaces that suit their contemporary lifestyles.

Golf courses frequently are large enough to include wetland areas.  But until recently, the manicured course was the norm.  More natural golf courses are beginning to emerge, but still need advocates to encourage the reduction of chemicals in landscaping, and preservation or restoration of natural and native flora and fauna.

This interview by Golf Digest with Robert Wood, the deputy director of the Wetlands Division, the EPA's representative in the Golf & the Environment Initiative, and an 18-handicap golfer.

Why do wetlands matter on golf courses?

Why shouldn't I be able to fill in the wetland on my golf-course project?
 
Wetlands are a vital part of any aquatic ecosystem. They provide habitat to a wide range of wildlife from fish, shellfish, all the way down to insect communities. Wetlands are the unique habitat for something like 30 percent of all endangered species, and 50 percent of endangered species spend at least part of their life cycle in wetlands. They're very ecologically rich.

To most people, endangered species are things like snow leopards and elephants, but there are more than 1,000 endangered species in the U.S. alone.

That's right. People are not thinking about salamanders or vegetation in a wetland. They're critically important as a habitat. And they're critically important as a filter: We build all this infrastructure to keep water clean, and wetlands provide very much that same kind of cleansing capacity in a natural way. And they provide a buffering capacity for storm events. We saw this very much with the Katrina and Rita storms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Is there a figure for the size of America's wetlands? A lot of the wetlands have disappeared.
The first statistical wetlands status-and-trends report in 1983 estimated the rate of wetland loss from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s at 458,000 acres per year. Wetlands then were largely thought of as a hindrance to development. In the 1991 report, which covered the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, we were still losing wetlands, but the rate had declined to 290,000 acres a year. The third report, from '86 to '97, indicated that the rate of loss was down to 58,500 acres per year. Now the 2006 report, which covers 1998 to 2004, shows that the wetland area actually increased by an average of 32,000 acres per year. This was the first report to show that we were in a period of increasing wetlands. There was, however, some issue with this report over how wetlands were defined.

[Note: The report states that the total area of wetlands in the U.S. in 2004 was 107.7 million acres. Wood goes on to explain that the claim of wetlands growth has been contested. A New York Times story, for instance, explains that over the study period, 523,500 acres of true wetlands, swamps and tidal marshes were lost, but this was offset in the report by gains of 715,300 acres of ponds, including man-made ornamental ponds -- hardly a fair trade.]

To some golfers, wetlands and wild areas are just a nuisance, places where you're going to lose your ball. They'd rather see the golf course mowed from fence line to fence line. What do you say to them?

When you provide a bit of education, you can get a very different answer. You can say, for example, that not mowing certain areas is better for wildlife, better for water quality and allows native vegetation to thrive and maybe prevents an invasive species from moving in. It might change the look of the course a little bit and the way it plays a little bit, maybe not. I'm a golfer, and to me what's intrinsically attractive about the game is that you are essentially in a natural setting. And it's the restrictions and unique features of that natural setting that make a particular course challenging, one that you like and remember and want to go back to. That's been a design principle of golf courses from the beginning. It's part of the game.

One of the influential landscape architects of the last century was Ian McHarg, who was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He came out with a book in 1969 called Design with Nature. The audience was really urban planners and landscape architects, but it applies to golf courses, too. It's the tradition of the game, and we're rediscovering that tradition.

READ THE REST AT THE SOURCE: GolfDigest

Learn! Explore! Take Action!

Celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health.

May, American Wetlands Month is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide - improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm surge risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.

In organizing its activities this year, EPA is placing special emphasis on encouraging Americans to:

1. Learn about wetlands. This is a great time to better understand what a wetland is, where wetlands can be found, and the importance of wetlands. Activities may include reading and studying about wetland areas, drawing maps or illustrations of wetlands, and identifying native species found in wetlands. Information on wetlands and the important benefits they provide is available on this website, through EPA's wetland fact sheet series, or by visiting the websites of our partners.
2. Explore a wetland near you. Unless you live in the most extreme climate zones, there is a good chance a scenic wetland exists nearby for you to visit and explore during American Wetlands Month and throughout the year. To find a wetland near you, consult your local parks department, state natural resource agency, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/refuges). If you live in the Washington, DC area, a guide has been created to highlight wetlands and wildlife sanctuaries.
3. Take action to protect and restore wetlands. Support and promote wetlands informing community members about wetlands' vital roles, "adopting" a wetland, joining a local watershed group, or participating in a wetland monitoring, restoration, or cleanup project. There are many other actions Americans can take to help conserve wetlands.To learn more about what you can do to help protect and restore these valuable natural resources in your state or local area, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/#you.

Indoor Water Conservation

Plumbing conservation is widely accepted and routinely called for in federal, state and local legislation, ordinances for new development and agency rebate programs.

These devices are making a measurable difference. For example, Los Angeles saw a 25 percent decrease in demand in the 1990s with a plumbing retrofit program funded by water agencies.

The major benefit of low-flow plumbing device programs is that they can be implemented without requiring a change in the behavior of end users.

Outdoor Water Conservation

Saving water indoors with low-flow plumbing is easy compared to controlling outdoor water waste. Yet the vast majority of household water flows outside.

A study conducted by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) shows that 58 percent of residential water is applied to landscapes.  Gardening, recognized as the number one outdoor leisure activity, is growing in popularity as a national pastime.

According to a report published in the journal Environmental Management, some 40 million acres of the U.S. are covered in lawns, making turf the nation’s most irrigated crop.

And according to the American Water Works Association, most landscapes are overwatered by 30% to 300%, accounting for 80% of all landscape damage...and water waste!

SOLUTION:  Remove the TURF and replace it with DROUGHT TOLERANT GARDENS or NATIVE HABITAT, etc. that reduces water use.

See more research studies that can help you save water at the Independent Research Studies webpage provided by WeatherTRAK.

SOURCE:  WeatherTRAK.com

Drought Watch -- USGS State Information on Drought

Map of below normal 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of year (United States)

This map shows the 7-day average streamflow conditions in hydrologic units of the United States and Puerto Rico for the day of year. The colors represent 7-day average streamflow percentiles based on historical streamflow for the day of the year.

The Importance of  Landscaping and Streamflow

Streams feed and pull from the groundwater supply, the water table.  When streams in a region are low, landscaping  is also vulnerable to drought conditions.  Some regions are more susceptible to low streamflow conditions on a seasonal basis, but some areas have increasing population stresses put on a normally healthy ecosystem.  Landscaping professionals and conscientious landowners can play an important role in the health of their ecosystem and their longterm water supply by applying conservation practices in selection of plant species that require  minimal water, and using protective devices such as cisterns, swales and  raingardens to protect the groundwater system from contaminants and pollution.

Inspired by ecosystems as old as the earth itself, John Todd Ecological Design, Inc. rebuilds ecological balance for clients with The ECO Machine - a wastewater treatment system that naturally treats sewage and industrial waste to re-use quality. Ecological function is an important consideration as fresh water becomes one of the most important commodities in our urbanized world.

John Todd Ecological Design's ECO Machines bring advanced wastewater treatment technology, and unsurpassed aesthetic, economic, and environmental advantages to companies, communities, and resorts both at home and internationally.

Dr. Todd is a pioneer in the emerging field of ecological design and engineering and has won many prestigious awards and honorary degrees including awards for projects from the EPA and a number of innovation awards including the Theodore Roosevelt conservation Award from the White House, and an achievement award by the United Nations Environment Program.

How does an Eco Machine Wastewater Treatment System Work?

ECO Machines accelerate nature's own water purification process. Unlike chemical-based systems, ECO Machines incorporate helpful bacteria, fungi, plants, snails, clams, and fish that thrive by breaking down and digesting organic pollutants, pollutants that normally deprive the water of oxygen. This clean, simple approach efficiently transforms high-strength industrial wastewater and sewage into water clean enough to be recycled for reuse.

CONTACT:
John Todd Ecological Design, Inc.
P.O. Box 497
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
1.508.548.2545
www.toddecological.com

Napa Home & Garden is a fast growing garden accessory and decor line, headed by husband and wife team, KC and Jerry Cunningham.  Before KC Cunningham turned Napa Home & Garden into a successful manufacturer of high-end decor, she was content puttering around in her own Napa home and garden. Her move into the decorative accessories industry was accidental — one that came late in life and for which she credits husband, Jerry, her business partner.  KC Cunningham was enjoying an early retirement following the couple's sale of their financial services business in California when Jerry invested in a gift company that turned out to need a turnaround!  Her experience building, remodeling and decorating homes in Napa Valley helped grow the business into a highly successful home and garden retailer working with world class decorators and talented horticulturists.

Napa Home & Garden is on the move, and anticipates substantial growth in 2008 as they build a national showroom presence for their customers'  convenience.  Their product line includes ceramics, glass, wrought iron, wood products, patio furniture and wire decor and accessories.

The company's rapid growth also necessitated the Cunninghams' relocation from California to the East Coast, where they divide their time between a high-rise Atlanta condominium in Buckhead, and a Highlands, N.C., mountain lodge.

A new showroom in High Point debuted in October 2007, and they are located on the 2nd Floor in the IHFC Building, this is their largest and most successful showroom to date. 

In New York, Napa moved to Pier 94 where the NY Gift Show is concentrating the best home decor vendors. 

In the  summer of 2008, they will move into a permanant space on the 6th Floor, Building C in Las Vegas. 

In Atlanta, they moved around the corner on the same floor (10th) to be in a position to combine their Gardens showroom with their Home showroom when the new 2West building opens January 2009.

Napa Home & Garden will be taking a large space at the Independant Garden Center Show in Chicago this August to introduce new products and lines to garden center customers.

The corporate sales representation relationship with OneCoast (www.onecoast.com), one of the industry's premier sales representatives  to home decor vendors will include Napa's presence in OneCoast Showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, Denver, Seattle and Chicago.

OneCoast will sell Napa in the entire nation with the exception of Southern California, Southern Nevada and Arizona.

Jerry and KC Cunningham

California has been battling water demands for 15 years and our water supply has remained flat even with an increase in population. However, many of the easy conservation tactics have now been implemented! And the population is continuing to grow. The future will require tougher water policies to keep pace with population demands. Climate changes could also reduce the water supply.

Solutions Executive Summary

• Plants are often over-watered, causing wasted water as well as diseased or sickly plants
• One of the largest conservation opportunities is reducing turf grass – replace with woody plants
• Optimizing your irrigation system can save 20-40% of your water use...
• Changing turf species can save another 20%.
• Reclaimed water is the current strategy for large conservation impact.
• Water management strategy maintains quality and reduces water consumption

Read more about water conservation at CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com

Waterscaping to Expand and Improve Habitat Quality

Create your own private island! Islandcapes enhance the beauty and biological health of ponds and streams - providing innovative filtration and a lush growing environment for terrestrial plants. Islandscapes offer food and fun for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, frogs and other wildlife.

"Many bodies of water carry an unnaturally high nutrient load, due to runoff containing lawn and garden fertilizers etc.," explains Deb Kitszke of Freedom Ponds. "This can result in a wide range of serious water quality problems. Islandscapes represent a holistic way to mine these nutrients out of the waterway and convert them into a beautiful and wildlife enhancing floating garden habitat."

Biofiltration to Improve Water Quality

Islandscapes will attract beneficial microbes that are most likely already present within your waterway. Your Islandscape will also provide water quality benefits as it filters suspended solids and colloidals from the water. However your island is likely to be even more effective at competing with algae if you dose it with beneficial bacteria.

See examples and read more about floating islands.