newsletter archive
View current and past issues of Cultivating Ideas by clicking on the links below:
May 2008: Homegrown Produce
April 2008: Kid-friendly Landscapes
March 2008: Less Water, More Green
February 2008: Increase Your Appeal
January 2008: Visualize, then Realize
December 2007: Room with a View
November 2007: Pet-friendly Landscapes
October 2007: Landscapes that Cook
new level 4 drought rules
June 18, 2008 — Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division releases updated watering guidelines. You can download the guidelines below or visit the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council for more information. You must complete the water use registration program in order to water newly-installed landscapes.
new watering guidelines
February 12, 2008 — Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division Releases Watering Guidelines: Citizens in 61 drought-stricken north Georgia counties can fill swimming pools and hand water their landscape effective immediately...
monthly publication launches
October 15, 2007 — This month, Outdoor Expressions and GreenCare launched Cultivating Ideas, a monthly publication that features expert advice on all things outdoors. View the premiere issue. To receive Cultivating Ideas in your e-mail inbox, simply enter your name and e-mail address here.
watering during the drought
October 10, 2007 — We're receiving many calls at Outdoor Expressions and GreenCare regarding the drought condition in our state. MALTA (Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association) provides an interesting article that discusses a range of issues around the water shortage, from public perception to how watering bans affect our economy. We're providing it below for you to download.
If you're considering any new plantings this year, currently you are allowed to water for 30 days IF a landscape contractor does the installation. This approach will take your new landscape into the dormant season and make it much more likely that your plants will be successful going into spring. Please contact us if you'd like more information or have any questions.
Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association Article
to help a family in need
March 11, 2007 — “To Help A Family in Need.” We heard this phrase again and again during a recent Outdoor Expressions project completed in Waleska, Georgia. Every one of our employees and many of our suppliers and subcontractors joined together to participate in ABC’s hit reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The Tipton-Smith family, recently affected by a string of tragic events, was selected by ABC to be the recipient of an entire home remodel at no cost to them. From the furniture to the painting to the landscaping, every piece of material and every hour of labor was donated to give the Tipton-Smiths their dream home. We were thrilled to be given the job of designing and building the landscape and hardscape elements of the property. What would typically be a six to seven week landscape job was completed in only 106 hours while the family was on vacation! The family now has a relaxing retreat in their own yard, complete with a memorial garden and arbor, rock walls, extensive planting, a water feature, automatic irrigation and even landscape lighting. It was a great team-building exercise for the company as well; the supervisors and laborers were joined in the field by the office staff and owners for long hours on a tough job, united by a common cause: to help a family in need.
The episode will air on March 11th on ABC.
We could not imagine this project coming together without the heartfelt support and donations from our associates listed below. Thanks!
Andy Anderson Trucking, fill dirt, 770-926-8241
Buck Jones Nursery, Woodstock, shrubs, 770-345-5506
Citizen Studio, web design, 404-892-0560
Ed Ferris, curved arbor, 770-310-8080
Kelley Irrigation, irrigation and lighting, 770-973-5105
Greene's Blueprinting, reprographics, 770-479-3773
Ladyslipper, perennials and groundcovers, 770-345-2998
Lowe's of Alpharetta, fountain fittings, 678-461-0171
Pike's Wholesale Nursery, trees, shrubs, stone, fountain 678-297-7541