LDS Conference Center Roof Top Garden Winter Sunset

The LDS Conference Center roof top garden in downtown Salt Lake City is a great place to catch a sunset.  While they don't let you hang out on top, you can still time it just right if you plan ahead or ask to see the garden at the right time.

December 2011 has received minimal snow so far and the roof garden was open.  The haze and smog aren't beautiful to look at or breath, but it does add a little bit more color to the sunset.

Just before I was about to leave the roof top garden I stopped and while looking at City Creek Center I said "wow there are no construction cranes".  This is the first time in 5 years plus in which no cranes could be seen in the skyline above the City Creek Center.  At one point I seem to remember counting more than 16 tall cranes working in the entire City Creek skyline at one time.  I'm amazed and can't wait for it to open.



This is the fountain which splits into 4 different fountains representing the 4 corners of the earth.  I really liked how it was icing up just a little bit, but still flowing.



Here is a sunset view of the Promontory on South Temple Tower.
As I understand it is done and now selling condominiums.
http://www.citycreekliving.com/promontory/promontory_plans.php



Here is a view of the Conference Center roof top tower looking west into the sunset.  I really like how the sun was reflecting off the dakota granite and the stream of water.

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Privacy on a busy road - Edmonds WA front landscape

Designing and landscaping a nice front yard on somewhat busy street can be tricky.  I really like how this home in Edmonds Washington handled it.  I don't know who did the design otherwise I would give them credit, but it is definitely worth documenting and learning from.

The cedar fence panels have an alternating pattern so as to add style and break up the monotony typical of fences.  They also sport quality trim and trellis work on top.  The fence also serves as a nice backdrop to the planting design and dry river bed in the front yard. 

The driveway is colored concrete and fence panels offer little windows of the other side.  Some of the plants used include: Lavender, Bamboo, and other water wise planting.  I question the use of the bamboo in the open front yard area as it may have a tendency to invade, but time will tell.

The fence was set back from the side just enough for some shrub and perennial plantings.  This helps minimize the wall effect and feeling for walkers and neighbors.

The total project color palette was done quite nicely and most everything has a natural tone or texture to it, with just enough uniqueness to it.

new trail in Providence Canyon, Providence Utah, Cache County

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This year a new trail was added to Providence Canyon, Providence UT.  We walked it earlier in the week and today I mountain biked it.  The trail is fantastic for hiking or mountain biking.  It has multiple wooden bridges and the first half of the trail follows the stream.  It is very windy and has many scenic views.  There is about 1200 elevation climb and the trail mostly sticks to the north facing (shady) side of the canyon.  My GPS recorded 5.4 miles on the round trip (for the single track part).  For mountain biking it is probably medium to difficult (in a few sections) in terms of technical difficulty.  It is a fun descent with a number of places to duck under a tree or twist around a rock.

I don't know who did the design layout of the trail, but they did a good job in planning the designated pathway.  The Utah CC did a good job in constructing the trail by preserving the vegetation on both the sides of the trail and removing major rocks from the soil.

Up higher you will notice severe erosion which occurred on the Spring Creek drainage spring/summer 2011.  In a number of places the creek jumped the bank or severely cut it.  The erosion was due to extreme snow-pack (almost double normal).

The canyon road can be busy at times with motorcycles, hunters, atvs, and trucks, thus making a separate hiking/biking trail valuable and increasing safety.  The trail will be a great resource to the local community as it matures.

Erosion up higher

Seattle Chittenden Locks Fish Ladder Plaza

The public artwork at the Chittenden Locks (also called Ballard Locks) at Fish Ladder Plaza is fun and educational.  The waves run kind of like a wave rolling on the ocean.  Educational signs tell about the Pudget Sound and Salmon life cycle.

Directly below the plaza is a room with windows to watch the large salmon swim through the gates and work their way towards the Salmon Bay and Lake Union.  You can also watch boats go through the locks which is interesting.

New grass is green in more ways than one | ksl.com

I read this article about a new grass variety that is native to Nebraska and supposed to be more drought tolerant than traditional Kentucky Blue.  New grass types come out almost every year like fashion, so hopefully the hype is true. - Jake

See link below.

New grass is green in more ways than one | ksl.com

someday the highline trail

I'm a big fan of the High Line project in New York City and I can't wait to visit it (some far distant day).  I patronize its nature of essentially being one large urban recycle project, mixed with wild and natural plants.

Check out this video.

Garden Rooms: Examples Shown From Morinda Gardens, Provo UT (Tahitian Noni International)

Garden Rooms hold a special place in the world of landscape architecture.  Recently Deseret News ran an article I wrote on Garden Rooms.

Hickman Garden - Sketch by Jake Young

This week, we invited Jake Young to be guest columnist to discuss possibilities to be explored and developed in your own outside living spaces. If we keep talking about spring, maybe it will finally come.

Perhaps there is not a more enchanting place than a mid-summer botanical garden full of color, natural fragrance and vegetation. You can bring this same beauty to your back yard by applying some of the same design principles used in your home to create a garden room or an exterior gathering place.

The garden room can serve as a place for outdoor entertaining, a space for growing delicious fruits and vegetables or a sanctuary busy with humming birds or bees spreading pollen. If created and maintained properly, the garden room can be the treasure of any residential landscape.  

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700123539/Garden-rooms-bring-floral-beauty-to-your-home.html?pg=1


Morinda Gardens in Provo, UT (Tahitian Noni International) offer great examples of Garden Rooms (as described in my article).  The overall design of Morinda Gardens was done by MHTN.  The photos below of Morinda Gardens were taken by Jake Young.  FYI you have to have permission ahead of time to take photos of the gardens.  So call ahead and be prepared to pay a fee (if you must take photos), if not just enjoy.