Travel & Landscaping: March 2008 Archives
Beautification was a term Johnson disliked, even
though it has been indelibly linked to her public
persona as the first lady who lobbied for a prettier
world. The word itself is, ironically, ungainly.
What's worse, it trivializes what she was trying to
do.
In 1982, marking her 70th birthday, the former first lady and the actress Helen Hayes, a longtime friend, founded the National Wildflower Research Center out of a small house and plot on the east side of Austin. The aim was to promote the protection and preservation of wildflowers -- or, more accurately, indigenous plants of every stripe -- along with the ecosystems in which they thrived.
Renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in 1997, the center fell under the aegis of her alma mater, the University of Texas in 2006. It includes an online native plant information network, listing and describing more than 7,200 species of native plants ( www.wildflower.org).
The wildflower center is working with the American Society of Landscape Architects and the U.S. Botanic Garden in developing standards and guidelines for certifying sustainable green landscapes in the same way that buildings now are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Something far beyond beautification.
In 1982, marking her 70th birthday, the former first lady and the actress Helen Hayes, a longtime friend, founded the National Wildflower Research Center out of a small house and plot on the east side of Austin. The aim was to promote the protection and preservation of wildflowers -- or, more accurately, indigenous plants of every stripe -- along with the ecosystems in which they thrived.
Renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in 1997, the center fell under the aegis of her alma mater, the University of Texas in 2006. It includes an online native plant information network, listing and describing more than 7,200 species of native plants ( www.wildflower.org).
The wildflower center is working with the American Society of Landscape Architects and the U.S. Botanic Garden in developing standards and guidelines for certifying sustainable green landscapes in the same way that buildings now are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Something far beyond beautification.
Sustainable Vine Wine Tours operates scheduled tours from Santa Barbara, California
and the surrounding areas. The educational tours highlight the region's
rich wine history and the sustainable aspects of some of today's best
wine producers. Tours include door to door service, wine tastings, an
organic picnic lunch, and a gift certificate towards the purchase of
wines. For more information visit www.sustainablevine.com
Sustainable Vine's owner, Bryan Hope, feels that it's important to support companies who are engaged in positive business practices. This is why he has chosen to direct business to winemakers such as Alma Rose, Ampelos, Beckmen, and Presidio, who have committed to a higher level of environmental stewardship and who continue to make outstanding wines.
Read more about sustainable vineyards in California
Sustainable Vine's owner, Bryan Hope, feels that it's important to support companies who are engaged in positive business practices. This is why he has chosen to direct business to winemakers such as Alma Rose, Ampelos, Beckmen, and Presidio, who have committed to a higher level of environmental stewardship and who continue to make outstanding wines.
Read more about sustainable vineyards in California
Sustainable land management practices can succeed both on the small
scale in your own backyard, and on a larger, estate scale. When
permaculture, or xeriscape, or organic strategies are used at public
gardens and public parks, the benefits not only impact the greater
environment with air, water and soil protection-- but the immediate
health and wellbeing of visitors to these heavily used open spaces.
Lotusland
is a public garden near Santa Barbara, California that practices ongoing
permaculture improvement. All materials used today in the garden are
certified organically-based and the least harmful alternatives
available.
Lotusland
is a public garden near Santa Barbara, California that practices ongoing
permaculture improvement. All materials used today in the garden are
certified organically-based and the least harmful alternatives
available.
Lotusland's successful sustainable gardening program is built by
incorporating various practices and ideas relevant to the specific site
that encourage as much compatibility among diverse organisms as
possible.
