O:9:"MagpieRSS":23:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:25:{i:0;a:12:{s:4:"info";s:350:"<id >tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-7451458901520124430</id><published >2011-02-25T10:07:00.010-05:00</published><updated >2011-02-25T11:53:56.453-05:00</updated><app:edited xmlns:app="http://www.w3.org/2007/app">2011-02-25T11:53:56.453-05:00<app:edited /><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Landscape ideas"></category>";s:5:"title";s:25:"The backyard living space";s:12:"atom_content";s:7565:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aIwBjVKa8I/TWfej_diMpI/AAAAAAAABL8/39l_-LywZOM/s1600/HN%2Blogo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aIwBjVKa8I/TWfej_diMpI/AAAAAAAABL8/39l_-LywZOM/s400/HN%2Blogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577671373433746066" border="0" /></a>At the tail end of 2009, <a href="http://www.poolcraft.ca/">Jason from Pool Craft</a> came to me with this project.  The customer had a small list of things they wanted in the yard (pool, patio and hot tub).  Jason was asking me to do my best to lay out everything within the given backyard area.  The end result was as follows in the pictures below....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQQeZiVb4kI/TWfJ6VHl-vI/AAAAAAAABL0/APfhEMsP-2Q/s1600/oudoor%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQQeZiVb4kI/TWfJ6VHl-vI/AAAAAAAABL0/APfhEMsP-2Q/s400/oudoor%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577648667460238066" border="0" /></a>As Spring of 2010 approached, a couple more things were added to the list of what to fit into the backyard space.  There was an idea for a pergola sitting over a bar area and a lounge area with a gas fireplace feature...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4iwNCEe9gY/TWfJtPv60xI/AAAAAAAABLs/zoaQULReWm8/s1600/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4iwNCEe9gY/TWfJtPv60xI/AAAAAAAABLs/zoaQULReWm8/s400/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577648442680464146" border="0" /></a><br />Granted that the yard was not very big to begin with... I wrestled with the spacial limits in my head...then plugged away at the plan on my computer... I like a challenge where the design restraints must conform to what the customer wants... Sometimes the answer absolutely has to be "No" but in most cases I try to find a way around the "No" and look for alternatives that will make my client happy...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPzwFHG6T7I/TWfJo4igjRI/AAAAAAAABLk/89Q5zoCr8ZU/s1600/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPzwFHG6T7I/TWfJo4igjRI/AAAAAAAABLk/89Q5zoCr8ZU/s400/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577648367730724114" border="0" /></a><br />The end result was a yard without grass... (which conforms to my dream to not push a lawnmower around!) ... the end result is a yard that is now part of the home... a backyard living space that can be enjoyed for many months of the year.  The addition of the fire pit can take the chill out of a cool September evening... the hot tub can be used year round due to it's proximity to the back door of the home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9hrj_jKTkOk/TWfJkwRaFKI/AAAAAAAABLc/xe9aaoxuwO4/s1600/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9hrj_jKTkOk/TWfJkwRaFKI/AAAAAAAABLc/xe9aaoxuwO4/s400/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577648296792036514" border="0" /></a><br />The Pergola Bar... a place for the "adults" of the pool party to sit while enjoying drinks, conversation and shade!  On a hot summer afternoon, while the kids are playing in the pool, this sort of space allows you to be out in the backyard and keep dry from both the pool splashing and summer heat...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAeOl8hjotk/TWfI5AP6_LI/AAAAAAAABLU/rdV4uLKwve4/s1600/pergola%2Band%2Bbar%2Bbackyard%2Blandscape.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAeOl8hjotk/TWfI5AP6_LI/AAAAAAAABLU/rdV4uLKwve4/s400/pergola%2Band%2Bbar%2Bbackyard%2Blandscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577647545166527666" border="0" /></a><br />Lastly, the most important part of the backyard, the pool!  When you are considering a pool, most often the ideal design includes an entertainment space.  Having a small strip of concrete around a pool with grass clippings and grass areas is not always fun when you come out of a pool soaking wet.  You want a good sized patio to place chairs and allow time to dry off before going in the home... if the yard is large enough and budget is big enough... a Cabana house is always a welcome sight!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-773l7TiZBYk/TWfIz1UphLI/AAAAAAAABLM/2dqIwjx4-W0/s1600/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-773l7TiZBYk/TWfIz1UphLI/AAAAAAAABLM/2dqIwjx4-W0/s400/backyard%2Bpool%2Blandscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577647456334218418" border="0" /></a><br />But as in most cases, the pool itself is a big investment for most families.  So budgets are taken into very strict consideration as to what can be done with a backyard space.  My advice to the potential pool owner... when getting estimates and quotes for a backyard pool installation, have someone plan it out for you first!<br /><br />A proper pool company (<a href="http://www.poolcraft.ca/">like Jason's company</a>) will do this for you... understanding that there is a budget for the project and leaving room for expansion in the future is the key to a successful backyard living space.  I often make sure that my plans take into consideration the patio space and structures that may come into play... be it a tool shed, cabana, or even an addition put on a home.  If it is a phased project over a set number of years, the plan is a key factor to the backyard success.<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />All photos used in this blog post are the sole property of <a href="http://www.poolcraft.ca/">Pool Craft</a>.   Pool Craft can be reached at:<br />Telephone: 905 884 2720<br />Toll free: 1-877-469-6649<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-7451458901520124430?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Cg0tQUDr1dgEBrFqVnmWtOvb8oo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Cg0tQUDr1dgEBrFqVnmWtOvb8oo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/9EdiCnvAGBY" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/7451458901520124430/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=7451458901520124430";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7451458901520124430?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7451458901520124430?v=2";s:4:"link";s:86:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/9EdiCnvAGBY/backyard-living-space.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:71:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2011/02/backyard-living-space.html";}}i:1;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-4602976215635529003";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-02-08T14:51:00.008-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-16T10:09:26.045-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-16T10:09:26.045-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:30:"Water Proofing Your Foundation";s:12:"atom_content";s:3474:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGi5FfyQxI/AAAAAAAABKs/-mk6kKeU-h4/s1600/HN%2Blogo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGi5FfyQxI/AAAAAAAABKs/-mk6kKeU-h4/s400/HN%2Blogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571413315645752082" border="0" /></a>Often times you will get a damp feeling in your basement...or even more drastically, there is water seeping in from outside... As foundations settle they may incur cracks along masonry joints or cracks within a poured in place foundation wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGe1Svf1iI/AAAAAAAABKc/5gGEl7QhbYg/s1600/Water%2Bproofing%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGe1Svf1iI/AAAAAAAABKc/5gGEl7QhbYg/s400/Water%2Bproofing%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571408852435326498" border="0" /></a> When such an occurrence happens where you find your basement leaking, you are forced to call up a contractor and have them come in to dig up the foundation walls for proper waterproofing repair.  Sometimes things can get messy where the waterproofing repair entails having to rip apart existing landscapes like planting beds of walkways around the home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGgDlm1J-I/AAAAAAAABKk/Vfjq3teGFlA/s1600/Water%2Bproofing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGgDlm1J-I/AAAAAAAABKk/Vfjq3teGFlA/s400/Water%2Bproofing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571410197529044962" border="0" /></a><br />If you are living in an older home and considering investing your money into a landscape project, check the conditions of your foundation walls before hand... if a repair is needed in the near future, it may make sense to have that done before you call in someone like myself to design and build your project...<br /><br />One of the newest members to the <a href="http://www.gardenstructure.com/entrance_landscaping_toronto">Gardenstructure.com group is John Liscio.</a>.. while he and his crew are skilled at landscape construction, they are very adept at conducting such repairs as waterproofing to foundation walls.  He has the equipment and the knowledge... he can be reached at <big>(416) 697-6715 <a href="http://xtremelandscaping.ca/">(click for John's website)</a><br /></big><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-4602976215635529003?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/498Xzu_zxydfkCbNWKR6FbgDzIY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/498Xzu_zxydfkCbNWKR6FbgDzIY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/WArsu0zcK6A" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/4602976215635529003/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=4602976215635529003";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4602976215635529003?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4602976215635529003?v=2";s:4:"link";s:94:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/WArsu0zcK6A/water-proofing-you-foundation.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:79:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2011/02/water-proofing-you-foundation.html";}}i:2;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-3655607579860141882";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-02-08T13:31:00.007-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-08T14:32:51.023-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-08T14:32:51.023-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:17:"Outdoor Furniture";s:12:"atom_content";s:6122:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGZAnDwoRI/AAAAAAAABKU/ss7oTOuH98U/s1600/HN%2Blogo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGZAnDwoRI/AAAAAAAABKU/ss7oTOuH98U/s400/HN%2Blogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571402449797816594" border="0" /></a>Okay, so you've had the patio installed and now it is time to find that perfect piece of furniture to add to your new backyard makeover....<br /><br />Last summer I was out and about in cottage country near Burk's Falls, Ontario... I happened upon a quaint little wood furniture store that had this gem of a patio table on display....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOYJccO8I/AAAAAAAABJ8/jp-bHHlGWZ4/s1600/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOYJccO8I/AAAAAAAABJ8/jp-bHHlGWZ4/s400/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571390759537228738" border="0" /></a><br />This table set was made with fine craftsmanship by the Mennonites here in Ontario.  I sat there and examined it's construction and attention to detail... everything was well put together and properly stained for maximum protection against the elements.  Granted that anything made from wood will need upkeep... maybe and extra layer of stain every so often to keep it looking fresh and new...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGORDwP7kI/AAAAAAAABJ0/GdaBf8NPy4M/s1600/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGORDwP7kI/AAAAAAAABJ0/GdaBf8NPy4M/s400/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571390637750611522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But it's look and feel is something that can't be replaced by the generic (and dare I say it, cheaply constructed) tables being shipped in from overseas... The price tag on this table with the 4 chairs was a little steep at $2000.00 for the set... but steep when compared to what?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOqpKfogI/AAAAAAAABKM/rje7SQ_5br0/s1600/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOqpKfogI/AAAAAAAABKM/rje7SQ_5br0/s400/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571391077289533954" border="0" /></a><br />As I mentioned, your typical choices on a lower budget are things with the stamp or tag that says "Made in China"  Usually they are fabricated out of metals that are not quite refined enough and end up breaking where air pockets exist inside the metal... or the welds are applied with "just enough" tack to hold things together...but not enough to withstand snow and heavy winds...or a BBQ dinner for 20 people...  The next time I see a patio table sagging under the weight of the food on it...I am snapping a picture to update this blog post!<br /><br />With a properly designed and crafted furniture piece you get things like the little detail you see in the above photo where there is a chair hook cleverly crafted into the table... a place for the chair to sit securely during a windy day...or even a spot to hold all 4 while you shift the table around for patio cleaning...<br /><br />In my experience, some of the cheaper sets of patio furniture ends up being replaced after a few years because it was designed on a computer without any thought given to what Mother Nature can throw at it... Spending that extra bit for a good quality piece will stretch your dollars a lot further.  The good thing about this set is that when it rains, it won't hold and store water within so it can start to rust the structure from the inside out and cause the paint to start flaking off to create a nice rust-orange stain on your patio or the piece itself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOka3V5yI/AAAAAAAABKE/lOG-EQnw1yc/s1600/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TVGOka3V5yI/AAAAAAAABKE/lOG-EQnw1yc/s400/Western%2Bred%2Bcedar%2Btable%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571390970371893026" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yes!!...and for those of you wondering why there is a trap door in the middle of the table... it is my most favorite detail of all (in the above photo). Not many of the "Made in China" sets come with this much thought put into them.... a place to put beer and or other drinks on ice... as you sit and chat with your guests you can help yourself to a "cold one"...or simply instruct your guests to please do the same... without either of you having to travel very far!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-3655607579860141882?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/F8qtoVNr8kECtf5ahuBkN6rIHwA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/F8qtoVNr8kECtf5ahuBkN6rIHwA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/DONPKj6-ocM" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/3655607579860141882/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=3655607579860141882";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3655607579860141882?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3655607579860141882?v=2";s:4:"link";s:82:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/DONPKj6-ocM/outdoor-furniture.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:67:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2011/02/outdoor-furniture.html";}}i:3;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-5699739248830258445";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-01-22T16:34:00.008-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:11.975-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:11.975-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:27:"Stone Masonry: perfect fit!";s:12:"atom_content";s:5248:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtUmphGzOI/AAAAAAAABGs/csyvwbsqfmU/s1600/HN%2Blogo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtUmphGzOI/AAAAAAAABGs/csyvwbsqfmU/s400/HN%2Blogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565134787502853346" border="0" /></a>Yes folks, yet another reoccurring theme in my blog posts; excellent stone masonry work!  When a true craftsman puts his hands to a stone wall, I cannot help but stare and admire it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtTzpFgKtI/AAAAAAAABGU/GzJzihWXyew/s1600/Stone-Mason-Toronto-11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtTzpFgKtI/AAAAAAAABGU/GzJzihWXyew/s400/Stone-Mason-Toronto-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565133911213746898" border="0" /></a>This past summer I was working on a landscape design for a custom home project built by a friend of mine, <a href="http://www.severhomes.ca/">John Sever of Sever Homes, Custom Design and Build</a> .  The interesting thing for me was that I had ventured onto the job site to take pictures of the surrounding property so I could begin my design concept for the landscape plan...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtTlmMNSZI/AAAAAAAABGM/igc0gUs4s9I/s1600/Stone-Mason-Toronto-22.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtTlmMNSZI/AAAAAAAABGM/igc0gUs4s9I/s400/Stone-Mason-Toronto-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565133669918394770" border="0" /></a>Instead of focusing on the task at hand, my eyes were drawn to the stonework that was happening around the home itself.  I snapped these pictures in admiration and decided to post them today to share with you... Once in a while you will see stone masonry projects where your eyes go immediately to mistakes in the stone layout, or forgotten corners of stone pieces that should have been chiseled smooth instead of left razor sharp.  I've even seen cases where mortar is falling out of joints on a 2 year old house that is valued at about 1.5 million!...that to me would  be like buying a Ferrari and having the wheel bolts shear off the first time you drive it....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtT88qZOCI/AAAAAAAABGc/RYBWS4OWt3Y/s1600/Stone-Mason-Toronto-33.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtT88qZOCI/AAAAAAAABGc/RYBWS4OWt3Y/s400/Stone-Mason-Toronto-33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565134071087577122" border="0" /></a>Well, none of that scariness was evident on this project!... The masons took their time and poured their hearts into their craft as they put this exterior together.  It was a pleasure to watch them work and always a pleasure to see what details John creates in his new home projects.... John will always demand good quality work from his trades when building a home... I do the same in my landscapes and that is why I like working with him,  makes for a perfect fit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtUIEBFVNI/AAAAAAAABGk/gW9VpjFb2Eg/s1600/Stone-Mason-Toronto-44.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TTtUIEBFVNI/AAAAAAAABGk/gW9VpjFb2Eg/s400/Stone-Mason-Toronto-44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565134262040351954" border="0" /></a>The stone used here is a mixture of Dani stone mixed with Ebel stone... The Mason's technique is to mimic the style of stonework you would see on structures in the old parts of Downtown Toronto and in other various parts of Ontario where Credit Valley stone was used about 100 years ago.<br /><br />The home is near complete and the landscape will be finished this spring... I will be sure to visit once everything is done and photograph it all for a future post update...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-5699739248830258445?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vQXs2qDG1cjAv8-TrMOoQvfzI7I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/vQXs2qDG1cjAv8-TrMOoQvfzI7I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/L7BsijoFs34" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/5699739248830258445/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=5699739248830258445";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5699739248830258445?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5699739248830258445?v=2";s:4:"link";s:90:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/L7BsijoFs34/stone-masonry-perfect-fit.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:75:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2011/01/stone-masonry-perfect-fit.html";}}i:4;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-2634226671286319219";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-12-24T10:40:00.004-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:31.449-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:31.449-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:17:"Sense of Place...";s:12:"atom_content";s:3837:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTTU2HmXHI/AAAAAAAABFM/scXXNaPw72Q/s1600/HN%2Blogo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTTU2HmXHI/AAAAAAAABFM/scXXNaPw72Q/s400/HN%2Blogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554296595532897394" border="0" /></a>The front entrance is what can make or break a landscape... this is a re-occurring theme in my blog posts because I think it is one of the most important aspects of the landscape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTBqGHrseI/AAAAAAAABE8/JD_hNzH8NtE/s1600/frontyard%2Blandscape3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTBqGHrseI/AAAAAAAABE8/JD_hNzH8NtE/s400/frontyard%2Blandscape3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554277169396167138" border="0" /></a><br />One of the important things we were taught in my years studying Landscape Architecture was that we were to give the visitor of a landscape the idea of a sense of arrival... or give the visitor a sense of place!<br /><br />Being a young first year University student back then...you just blindly wrote down words uttered by your prof in hopes that one day you'd understand what they were talking about... of course, in my mind, the term needed further study which paved the way to an understanding that creating a landscape with a sense of place, would take a few years of practice to master the idea....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTGp_YiO-I/AAAAAAAABFE/BOXdx47m3OQ/s1600/Front%2Byard%2Blandscape.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TRTGp_YiO-I/AAAAAAAABFE/BOXdx47m3OQ/s400/Front%2Byard%2Blandscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554282665145940962" border="0" /></a><br />Wikipedia defines the term in a round about way as a place that has a special relationship to both the area and context it is located in as well as a special, unique or authentic feel to the person visiting the space.<br /><br />Have I mastered this unique experience in my designs?  Many clients have told me they love the landscapes I created for them... Each one unique to the home and to the user of the space... each place has it's own feel and energy to it and provides hours of enjoyment while a person uses the space.  I guess by that definition and their comments, I have discovered how to put a "Sense of place"  into the landscape...<br /><br />But by my own definition, I am constantly learning and improving with the next design...striving to bring a unique flavour that is unmatched by my older work... so to say I have mastered it... I think the day I decide to retire from my work would be the day I consider that idea...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-2634226671286319219?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Ru-ZlXDnNX7IblVegn4bDQk-Zyg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Ru-ZlXDnNX7IblVegn4bDQk-Zyg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/1jJQU_CwLsM" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/2634226671286319219/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=2634226671286319219";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/2634226671286319219?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/2634226671286319219?v=2";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/1jJQU_CwLsM/pride-of-place.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:64:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/12/pride-of-place.html";}}i:5;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-3027603542497776230";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-11-04T11:38:00.002-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-11-04T11:40:24.084-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2010-11-04T11:40:24.084-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:14:"Coming soon...";s:12:"atom_content";s:1445:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TNLTx6y-dbI/AAAAAAAABEw/kPuG8Xiw9mM/s1600/Gate+detail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TNLTx6y-dbI/AAAAAAAABEw/kPuG8Xiw9mM/s400/Gate+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535719746541876658" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry folks, I have been away from my posts as of late...it has been a very very busy season for me and in the meantime I have been doing my own backyard landscape project.... it is still in progress but here is a slight taste of it...when I am complete with my fence, I will update for this post....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-3027603542497776230?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/--_we78wg2eM2hUAbNaYoJqhCJ8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/--_we78wg2eM2hUAbNaYoJqhCJ8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/_G4Y2R8yWzo" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/3027603542497776230/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=3027603542497776230";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3027603542497776230?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3027603542497776230?v=2";s:4:"link";s:76:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/_G4Y2R8yWzo/coming-soon.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:61:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/11/coming-soon.html";}}i:6;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-8772861126859193568";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-11-04T11:32:00.001-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:41.993-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:41.993-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:19:"Cabana House Update";s:12:"atom_content";s:1472:"After a few months of work and some small delays on the roof trusses, the masonry aspect of the Cabana is complete...also, the roof is now on so the place will be forever dry inside!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TNLSOinKEvI/AAAAAAAABEo/yPFZw4hSFjs/s1600/Vaughan-20101103-00162.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TNLSOinKEvI/AAAAAAAABEo/yPFZw4hSFjs/s400/Vaughan-20101103-00162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535718039242806002" border="0" /></a>Still a bit more work before it becomes a year round structure that can be used comfortably in the dead of winter....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-8772861126859193568?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pMT8bMA7_Z2IZ2PYipyTqaRiKAs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/pMT8bMA7_Z2IZ2PYipyTqaRiKAs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/dGJHuCOeOo8" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/8772861126859193568/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=8772861126859193568";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8772861126859193568?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8772861126859193568?v=2";s:4:"link";s:84:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/dGJHuCOeOo8/cabana-house-update.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:69:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/11/cabana-house-update.html";}}i:7;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-4140466967626115190";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-31T10:18:00.007-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:51.366-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:51.366-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:11:"Pool Cabana";s:12:"atom_content";s:3838:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TFQ3A_zOcDI/AAAAAAAABEY/mEM5WstnHsM/s1600/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TFQ3A_zOcDI/AAAAAAAABEY/mEM5WstnHsM/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500081535192035378" border="0" /></a>Not complete just yet, but here we see the timber frame assembling for a Cabana.  This article is a continuation of my recent one: <a href="http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/07/pool-coping.html">Pool Coping</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TS8-18YF_9I/AAAAAAAABGE/Tbx-E2gJB4g/s1600/Pool%2BCabana.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TS8-18YF_9I/AAAAAAAABGE/Tbx-E2gJB4g/s400/Pool%2BCabana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561733161287024594" border="0" /></a>When I was called in to this project back in February of this year, the home owners already had a landscape design drawn by another designer for their yard.  They expressed to me that they were not too crazy about the design as they felt something did not fit right...<br />I had to admit that my first reaction when I saw the design was...why is there a big Cabana planned to be positioned right in the middle of the yard...blocking the view of the forest behind it and right over top of a group of 30 foot tall trees?<br /><br />The trees were a nice feel to the yard and I wondered why they would be slated for removal?<br />I asked that question to the home owners and they expressed that they loved the trees on their property...all of them!   That said it all...this is why they were not crazy about the design plan they had....<br /><br />So I pushed aside the landscape plan they had...and said lets start fresh!  We work around the trees to preserve them for you to enjoy and give you everything else you wanted in the yard!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TFQ2wWPqCRI/AAAAAAAABEQ/WpHfxD5Q51M/s1600/pool+cabana+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TFQ2wWPqCRI/AAAAAAAABEQ/WpHfxD5Q51M/s400/pool+cabana+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500081249159088402" border="0" /></a>The end result is the pictures above...I call it my wrap around Cabana!  I am sure those trees thank me for my design every time I visit the yard!  When the Architect came to visit the site to get an understanding of my layout...he smiled and loved the idea of the structure being able to work around the existing trees and having wide open views all around the yard!<br /><br />I smile every time I think that those trees in the middle of the yard will grow to a big healthy stand of mature Ash trees in the years to come...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-4140466967626115190?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/xDaEKxlpCf6hN_WvwtZjCdB7KC4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/xDaEKxlpCf6hN_WvwtZjCdB7KC4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/ejnAwa8ueFU" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/4140466967626115190/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=4140466967626115190";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4140466967626115190?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4140466967626115190?v=2";s:4:"link";s:76:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/ejnAwa8ueFU/pool-cabana.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:61:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/07/pool-cabana.html";}}i:8;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-236077678412888990";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-21T09:57:00.011-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:58.372-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:46:58.372-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:11:"Pool Coping";s:12:"atom_content";s:4894:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcCaPIon1I/AAAAAAAABEA/qP2pE7aNHSQ/s1600/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcCaPIon1I/AAAAAAAABEA/qP2pE7aNHSQ/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496364519991582546" border="0" /></a>Well... it is a hot summer in the Toronto area...and the landscape work is in full, busy swing!  My blog posts have somewhat slowed due to being very busy these days with many clients!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcAcet-daI/AAAAAAAABDA/MctFo6Ev76A/s1600/Pool+Coping+Owensound+Ledgerock.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcAcet-daI/AAAAAAAABDA/MctFo6Ev76A/s400/Pool+Coping+Owensound+Ledgerock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496362359511217570" border="0" /></a>I thought I would throw in an update on my last post about Owensound Ledgerock.  After my tour of the facility, and the ordering of materials, the project is finally coming together!  The above picture displays a close look at the Eramosa Bush-hammered coping ordered for the job.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBGUeYXrI/AAAAAAAABDY/KEEbpYHTzW0/s1600/pool+coping+installation.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBGUeYXrI/AAAAAAAABDY/KEEbpYHTzW0/s400/pool+coping+installation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496363078315957938" border="0" /></a>This picture shows the Stone Mason at his craft...carefully inspecting his mortar joints and checking his level to make things look good!  The important thing when using a coping like this... the edges are machine-cut and all the pieces are gauged to almost exact thickness....so you want to make sure your lines are straight and levels are equal!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBkvFLK8I/AAAAAAAABDo/1hsY3f0-0HU/s1600/Pool+Coping+installed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBkvFLK8I/AAAAAAAABDo/1hsY3f0-0HU/s400/Pool+Coping+installed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496363600854068162" border="0" /></a>If care is not put into those two important details...it will show up in the final product and you will notice that something is out of square or not level.  A less uniform type of pool coping with varying edges and thickness will be more forgiving if a mason is not too careful during the installation process.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBzCZANaI/AAAAAAAABDw/ioqDVdNLzmY/s1600/Pool+Backyard.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TEcBzCZANaI/AAAAAAAABDw/ioqDVdNLzmY/s400/Pool+Backyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496363846555678114" border="0" /></a>I always demand high-quality stone work when I refer a job to a Stone Mason...the man for this job in particular put the care needed in this install to make this yard look stunning!  The project is almost complete...what's next is a couple of stages, one is to build a Cabana suited for a king!  ...the other is to complete the planting to make all the stonework...work!!!<br /><br />On the job this day...<br /><br />Scott's crew from Impact Landscaping (416-520-0505)  hard at work with the interlock and pool coping.  In the background filling the pool up is Jason's crew from The Pool Craft (905-884-2720)...putting the finishing touches on the 18 x 38 rectangle pool they installed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-236077678412888990?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0AjYBz4Itw1lTebiqUt-9Jv1w58/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0AjYBz4Itw1lTebiqUt-9Jv1w58/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/l8GvWnO-K7A" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:153:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/236077678412888990/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=236077678412888990";s:9:"link_edit";s:74:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/236077678412888990?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:74:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/236077678412888990?v=2";s:4:"link";s:76:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/l8GvWnO-K7A/pool-coping.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:61:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/07/pool-coping.html";}}i:9;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-4684786007747363497";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-06-09T08:56:00.013-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:05.633-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:05.633-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:19:"Owensound Ledgerock";s:12:"atom_content";s:6497:"About 2 months ago, I had a chance to visit a very special place!  I figure that every landscape designer, architect and natural stone enthusiast should make it a point to visit this place at least once in their career!<br />The place you ask?  The <a href="http://www.ledgerock.com/">Owen Sound Ledgerock</a> Quarry Facility in Owen Sound, Ontario.<br /><br />Now it has been over a decade since I was last in school and going on class field trips, but when this opportunity came up to visit the Quarry, I put everything on hold and jumped at the chance to go!  Consider this place, the place of ideas and wonders of what can be done with natural stone... in the picture below is a pile of limestone quarried out of the Niagara Escarpment in the surrounding area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-ThugehoI/AAAAAAAABCw/MH38pv4uJGY/s1600/Owensound+Limestone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-ThugehoI/AAAAAAAABCw/MH38pv4uJGY/s400/Owensound+Limestone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480761479162398338" border="0" /></a>What Ledgerock does with it after is combine old world ideas with new world technology and provides you with a beautiful natural product.  As the stone is picked through and selected for various uses, saws like the one in the photo below go to work at the stone chunks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TSzQ5k3I/AAAAAAAABCo/rfCblJy_dPQ/s1600/Natural+stone+slab+saw.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TSzQ5k3I/AAAAAAAABCo/rfCblJy_dPQ/s400/Natural+stone+slab+saw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480761222741201778" border="0" /></a><br />Computer coordinates are entered into the saw's control program and these slabs of stone get sliced and diced into different shapes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TOUSdIbI/AAAAAAAABCg/UVXmfIu0HHQ/s1600/natural+stone+big+saw.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TOUSdIbI/AAAAAAAABCg/UVXmfIu0HHQ/s400/natural+stone+big+saw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480761145706750386" border="0" /></a>This was the saw of all saws!  I figure that blade was a diameter of 12 or 14 feet and the sound it made once it started to slice the stone was the equivalent to locking a jet aircraft inside a room and having it go to full throttle while you stood beside it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TIhTc3lI/AAAAAAAABCY/ZsuPO2Ds5lA/s1600/natural+stone+big+saw+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-TIhTc3lI/AAAAAAAABCY/ZsuPO2Ds5lA/s400/natural+stone+big+saw+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480761046121373266" border="0" /></a>The stream of water that showers down from the saw helps to keep the blade cool and keeps the stone dust created by the cuttings from flying around, filling the room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-XjE6c2sI/AAAAAAAABC4/izZi0ZFdWro/s1600/natural+stone+counters.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-XjE6c2sI/AAAAAAAABC4/izZi0ZFdWro/s400/natural+stone+counters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480765900403301058" border="0" /></a>Here we see some of the stone slabs being polished into smooth top counters for use in kitchens, bars or even office buildings.  My one regret was that I did not get a picture of the finished counter top... the grain of the stone pattern was gorgeous!  A deep rich looking mix of brown colours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-S9wy_ZpI/AAAAAAAABCQ/AX5prNazChA/s1600/Owensound+Flagstone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-S9wy_ZpI/AAAAAAAABCQ/AX5prNazChA/s400/Owensound+Flagstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480760861301630610" border="0" /></a>Anyway, after all that mess of stone piles and saws...the end result is packaged up into wood crates and ready to be shipped all over the place....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-S3ylvjwI/AAAAAAAABCI/mkqqJoJM4Qk/s1600/Owensound+Bush+Hammered+flagstone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/TA-S3ylvjwI/AAAAAAAABCI/mkqqJoJM4Qk/s400/Owensound+Bush+Hammered+flagstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480760758703722242" border="0" /></a>I would say that this has to be one of my favourite natural stone pavers.  The Owen Sound Bush hammered flagstone and coping gives any landscape site a very elegant and timeless finish to the space.  If a client were to ask me, what stone I would use on a project?  I would say to look no further than this article!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-4684786007747363497?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4Fy8-3L_r1NBwDW7lXq2ngrF-TQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4Fy8-3L_r1NBwDW7lXq2ngrF-TQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/y_jAcAvM6Yw" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/4684786007747363497/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=4684786007747363497";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4684786007747363497?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4684786007747363497?v=2";s:4:"link";s:84:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/y_jAcAvM6Yw/owensound-ledgerock.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"6";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:69:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/06/owensound-ledgerock.html";}}i:10;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-5087923599346230142";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-05-05T09:10:00.004-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:12.652-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:12.652-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:17:"Privacy Screen...";s:12:"atom_content";s:2672:"This recent project was a simple deck overhaul in Downtown Toronto.  The home owners had started out with an interior reno-project through the winter and worked their way right out to the backyard this spring. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S-FudiMySRI/AAAAAAAABBQ/i957Oz59reU/s1600/Tiger+Deck+Privacy+Screen+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S-FudiMySRI/AAAAAAAABBQ/i957Oz59reU/s400/Tiger+Deck+Privacy+Screen+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467772876280187154" border="0" /></a>Basically the old deck had consisted of rotting boards and very little space for today's style of furniture... A simple addition of a few more feet to the deck and eliminating a big step out from the back door gave the deck a lot more space to use for furniture and walkway room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S-FuZb0JScI/AAAAAAAABBI/TPglVHkXX38/s1600/Tiger+Deck+Privacy+Screen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S-FuZb0JScI/AAAAAAAABBI/TPglVHkXX38/s400/Tiger+Deck+Privacy+Screen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467772805846747586" border="0" /></a>Add to that a very simplified design of a privacy screen to help create that feeling of a room and you have a nice outdoor extension to your quaint little downtown backyard.... without a major renovation expense.<br /><br />The wood used here is Tigerwood...not to be confused with the golfer... it can be stained to preserve the beautiful rich colour you see, or left to weather to a silver-grey colour.  The project was crafted by the expertise of Tony Fredricks of the wood crafters... 416-420-3999<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-5087923599346230142?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/qkTHyOigyi_LwVcwCjB37kgRXoA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/qkTHyOigyi_LwVcwCjB37kgRXoA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/v5sPzmnVP5s" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/5087923599346230142/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=5087923599346230142";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5087923599346230142?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5087923599346230142?v=2";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/v5sPzmnVP5s/privacy-screen.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"5";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:64:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/05/privacy-screen.html";}}i:11;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-8458518216840869317";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-04-02T19:09:00.015-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:30.805-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2011-02-18T09:47:30.805-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:22:"Canadian Home Workshop";s:12:"atom_content";s:5836:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aCp5-JOEI/AAAAAAAAA_g/ryHnH6covdw/s1600/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aCp5-JOEI/AAAAAAAAA_g/ryHnH6covdw/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455691655053654082" border="0" /></a>It was about the beginning of February... I was at my drafting table dreaming of warmer days and the season to come.  I was drawing away on a landscape plan for a customer... placing a pool in the correct position for them when my phone rings and it is the editor for Canadian Home Workshop asking me if I wanted to participate in a story they were doing.  Now there is a call you don't expect to get every day!<br /><br />The idea was to have me create 3 landscape plans centered around 3 themes and make the drawings look pretty.  The question was...would I be interested in doing that?  My answer was very short and direct!  Yes!!!!...as would be the case with most any landscape designer worth his salt...when presented with a chance to display themselves in a magazine...who would say no?<br />So here it is folks... in this months current issue of Canadian Home Workshop...it is actually the April/May 2010 issue... which can be found in stores now or <a href="http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/index.php/ci_id/3503/la_id/1.htm">ordered online here</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7Z7uawvm9I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/08h6-C58BpM/s1600/Cover-Page.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7Z7uawvm9I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/08h6-C58BpM/s400/Cover-Page.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455684035993902034" border="0" /></a>Anyway, after my phone conversation, I tossed my blackberry on the table and went back to measuring my pool spacing to ensure proper setback dimensions according to the Town of Aurora, Ontario.  I kept looking back at my phone and wondering if I really just had the conversation I had....first with the editor and then a second one with the art director...or was I actually sound asleep and dreaming of a life that was not mine!?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFJ1B_gUI/AAAAAAAAA_o/ZD9dx0LoEPA/s1600/backyardmakeover12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFJ1B_gUI/AAAAAAAAA_o/ZD9dx0LoEPA/s400/backyardmakeover12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455694402506686786" border="0" /></a>When I sat down to draw the 3 plans,  it seemed like kind of a fuzzy dream to me as the drawings were just like any other landscape plan I would do...only I was the client for each of the three backyard plans!  Anyway, I just drew from my experience with the many clients I have designed for and created the concepts you will see in the magazine article...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFTJHXvvI/AAAAAAAAA_w/zA2FaUXpjj4/s1600/backyardmakeover34.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFTJHXvvI/AAAAAAAAA_w/zA2FaUXpjj4/s400/backyardmakeover34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455694562516778738" border="0" /></a>It was fun!...lol...it was a lot of fun...and a lot of hard work too!!!....not to mention I was drawing these in the comfort of my workspace, watching Team Canada play Hockey...listening to a crackling fire in the wood burning stove while the snow lay on the ground outside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFh0B-k9I/AAAAAAAAA_4/DMlilESVX9U/s1600/backyardmakeover56.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S7aFh0B-k9I/AAAAAAAAA_4/DMlilESVX9U/s400/backyardmakeover56.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455694814555050962" border="0" /></a>When I opened my mail up yesterday...there it was...my hard work along side my name printed in ink... in a magazine seen across Canada...not only was my stuff in there, but my good friend and colleague, Lawrence Winterburn of <a href="http://www.gardenstructure.com/">Gardenstructure.com</a> has one of his deck designs featured on the front cover of this issue along with a few showcased photos contained in a couple of the articles within this issue.  He is someone I would gladly share the spotlight with on any given day....<br /><br />Just wanted to say that the people at Canadian Home Workshop were a great bunch to work with and wanted to thank them for this opportunity!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-8458518216840869317?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oslJfZJhYyy0jm39pJm2klwoLB8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/oslJfZJhYyy0jm39pJm2klwoLB8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/MAgJc8C6WlI" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/8458518216840869317/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=8458518216840869317";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8458518216840869317?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8458518216840869317?v=2";s:4:"link";s:87:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/MAgJc8C6WlI/canadian-home-workshop.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:72:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/04/canadian-home-workshop.html";}}i:12;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-4992698803224956938";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-02-28T10:41:00.014-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-03-13T02:58:48.714-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2010-03-13T02:58:48.714-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:16:"Getting tired...";s:12:"atom_content";s:5126:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4wIrk7puSI/AAAAAAAAA-4/QdSHhEIPVAo/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4wIrk7puSI/AAAAAAAAA-4/QdSHhEIPVAo/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443735594325358882" border="0" /></a>Over the past couple of years I have been finding the odd website here or there that is displaying my landscape plans as their own creations under their own landscape design advertisement page...I have personally contacted over 10 websites with the request that they remove my plans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4wIf4zKpZI/AAAAAAAAA-w/39KAteMrNlw/s1600-h/cut-and-paste.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4wIf4zKpZI/AAAAAAAAA-w/39KAteMrNlw/s400/cut-and-paste.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443735393500046738" border="0" /></a>The original work is displayed on these links...with my permission of course:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.winterburngroup.on.ca/page/horticulture_design_plans_consultant_toronto.html">Page 1</a><br /><a href="http://www.gardenstructure.com/landscape_designs_garden_designs_toronto">Page 2</a><br /><a href="http://www.gardenstructure.com/cost_landscape_design_costs_fees">Page 3</a><br /><a href="http://www.gardenstructure.com/markham_landscape_design">Page 4</a><br /><br />It is getting kind of tiring for me to go around emailing these folks and requesting they remove "my work" that they are advertising as their own..."on their sites".<br /><br />So I will just create this blog post and list their sites for you to look at my work being displayed across the internet<br /><br />Thomas Landscape Design, 619-249-9010 :<br /><a href="http://www.thomaslandscapedesign.com/design.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thomaslandscapedesign.com/design.html</a><br /><br /><span style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"  >619-647-5813</span><br /><a href="http://thomaslandscapedesign.com/designs__services"rel="nofollow">http://thomaslandscapedesign.com/designs__services</a><br /><br /><p>Creative Gardens<br />Ballyneety<br />Limerick<br />Co. Limerick </p> <p> Tel: Office       (+353) 61 450666<br />Tel: Brian        (+353) 87 9927335<br />Tel: Seamus    (+353) 87 6666613 </p><br /><a href="http://www.creativegardens.ie/index.php/about" rel="nofollow">http://www.creativegardens.ie/index.php/about</a><br /><br /><br />I often have sat and wondered as I wrote out individual emails to the various sites that have my work on them...how do you sleep at night knowing you are displaying someone's work as your own?  Displaying something that is unique to the hand of the person that created it?<br /><br />The drawings are not computer generated and not colored by computer...they are hand drawn and rendered by a technique that is unique to me.  So my question is if it is my drawing that gets your customers calling you for a landscape design like the one you are displaying...what happens when they ask for the same results and you cannot reproduce them?<br /><br />One of my biggest concerns when I opened the doors to my business was that what I displayed was my work and when a customer called me...I was able to give them what I displayed and much more...in school there was a course we took which taught us Ethics and Morals in the practice of Landscape Architecture or Landscape Design...and a big part of that was never to plagiarize someones work...and I have stuck by that for the past 10 years.<br /><br />Anyway, if you are the owner or web designer/master of one of these sites listed...and would like the link removed from this post...remove my designs first and then contact me with your request.  This blog post is in no way meant to be slanderous towards you it is just a way to save me the time and effort of composing individual emails with this theme....and it may be a polite way of saying...Get your own designs to display!!!<br /><br />Paul Corsetti<br />416-455-5515<br />paulcorsetti@rogers.com<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.gardenstructure.com">www.gardenstructure.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-4992698803224956938?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HzqSPLgt-LaMgsrJKNe7GVVyC0I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HzqSPLgt-LaMgsrJKNe7GVVyC0I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/2F7NHjSl7Qs" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/4992698803224956938/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=4992698803224956938";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4992698803224956938?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4992698803224956938?v=2";s:4:"link";s:78:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/2F7NHjSl7Qs/getting-tired.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:2:"13";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:63:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-tired.html";}}i:13;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-3817701140099337871";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-02-27T12:48:00.006-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-03-01T00:02:10.807-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2010-03-01T00:02:10.807-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:25:"A little of everything...";s:12:"atom_content";s:2888:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4ljJbNkzyI/AAAAAAAAA-g/GTjyfqhOgCo/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4ljJbNkzyI/AAAAAAAAA-g/GTjyfqhOgCo/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442990638228623138" border="0" /></a><br />Recently I was asked to do a design that had a touch of everything in it...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4lkULHTPjI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7Y6WwlHca9Y/s1600-h/Pool-backyard-landscape-plan.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S4lkULHTPjI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7Y6WwlHca9Y/s400/Pool-backyard-landscape-plan.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442991922397527602" border="0" /></a>The property owner had made requests for:<br /><ul><li>a pool with a water feature<br /></li><li>enough patio space to allow for a chiminea and sun lounge chairs<br /></li><li>deck space for dinning and BBQ area</li><li>a covered hot tub space</li><li>the cabana house with a small bar area incorporated in it</li><li>privacy</li><li>grass or lawn space to allow for kids to play and possibly have an ice rink in winter</li><li>storage areas</li><li>and last but not least....gardens!!!</li></ul>When presented with these requests...it can sometimes seem like a tall order for smaller yards but the idea of a landscape design is to make things fit and organize the space so it fits well!  The particular drawing shown above displays a slightly larger than normal typical sub-division lot which allowed for me to fit everything in that the customer had on their wish list!  I was able to do it in a way that kept things in balance in terms of where things were located.<br /><br />The end result.... a cool looking backyard that will provide hours of entertainment that would extend into the winter months with the addition of the skating rink, the chiminea spot and the hot tub!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-3817701140099337871?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Tsi6fxAjqm9x0HWF5L4yB1sL1FI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Tsi6fxAjqm9x0HWF5L4yB1sL1FI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/t1xWxiNRu_M" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/3817701140099337871/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=3817701140099337871";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3817701140099337871?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3817701140099337871?v=2";s:4:"link";s:85:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/t1xWxiNRu_M/little-of-everything.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:70:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/02/little-of-everything.html";}}i:14;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-5548427377421334214";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-01-07T11:59:00.006-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-01-07T12:34:26.329-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2010-01-07T12:34:26.329-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:35:"What inspires- Winter 2010...part 9";s:12:"atom_content";s:3845:"Ok, so a few weeks ago I was dreaming about lupines in the summer... now it is the New Year of 2010!  So...Happy New Year!<br /><br />I spent a few days in the woods taking in the quiet surrounds and the snow covered landscape.  On New Year's morning, I woke up to this lovely sight...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YWzfM4_YI/AAAAAAAAA88/AMZ8N48m4-0/s1600-h/Barred+Owl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YWzfM4_YI/AAAAAAAAA88/AMZ8N48m4-0/s400/Barred+Owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424047875019046274" border="0" /></a>This is apparently a Barred Owl!  Stands about 40 to 50 cm tall and wing spans stretch out to about 110 to 120 cm in length.  It is a marvel for me to understand how such a large bird can land on a 3/8th inch diameter re-bar and perch there for a few minutes.  When I first took his picture I was not sure what type of owl it was.  When I got home I was able to identify him and as I read on, I discovered he has probably been living in the area for a number of years and he is the equivalent to having a neighborhood cat living in the yard!<br /><br />Anyway, the next picture is showing what Nature does best...an arrangement of hills in the distance and placement of trees....followed by a nice winding road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YXFNHw96I/AAAAAAAAA9E/pXvbml2zCmE/s1600-h/fun+road.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YXFNHw96I/AAAAAAAAA9E/pXvbml2zCmE/s400/fun+road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424048179403356066" border="0" /></a>Believe it or not, these roads are much easier to drive on than a snow covered road in the city mixed with road salt!  The sand mixes in with the snow and combines with cold air to make the tires actually grip to the snow... and it is pollution free!<br /><br />This last picture is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandifolia">American Beech (<b>Fagus grandifolia</b><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YXPCapZxI/AAAAAAAAA9M/fJ0UqmLuIKo/s1600-h/Winter+beech+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/S0YXPCapZxI/AAAAAAAAA9M/fJ0UqmLuIKo/s400/Winter+beech+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424048348328453906" border="0" /></a>A baby Beech...or sapling coming up from a maturing forest in the background.  These trees develop a smooth bark with a very long and straight trunk.  They have an interesting form and in winter they hold their leaves as you see in the picture.  The larger trees can add a nice look to a bare winter backdrop of trees.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-5548427377421334214?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Z4mpJfAOh-TOxQzLM04I61DzD64/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Z4mpJfAOh-TOxQzLM04I61DzD64/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/FT6A_m1HscA" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/5548427377421334214/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=5548427377421334214";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5548427377421334214?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/5548427377421334214?v=2";s:4:"link";s:96:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/FT6A_m1HscA/what-inspires-winter-2010part-9.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:81:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-inspires-winter-2010part-9.html";}}i:15;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-9071783186906743954";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-12-21T07:08:00.002-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-12-21T07:08:00.691-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-12-21T07:08:00.691-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:22:"What Inspires - part 8";s:12:"atom_content";s:2902:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sy8jguoEZXI/AAAAAAAAA80/XoPUe5w8Bm0/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sy8jguoEZXI/AAAAAAAAA80/XoPUe5w8Bm0/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417587921928873330" border="0" /></a>Well the first day of winter is finally upon us and we are starting to feel it in the North East.   December 21st is the Winter Solstice which signifies the official start of winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sy8jKucRKzI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9SNnZmBBkSY/s1600-h/lupins+June.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sy8jKucRKzI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9SNnZmBBkSY/s400/lupins+June.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417587543922256690" border="0" /></a>I was just talking with my Uncle in Florida last night and he told me it is cold there!  In fact, he has stockpiled firewood in preparation for cold weather this winter.  One tends to wonder about the effects of Global Warming when you need a wood burning stove in Florida to keep you warm!<br /><br />Anyway, as we head into the Holiday season, I am wrapping up some old projects and starting on some new ones...I can't help but think about the Summer Solstice!  It is six months away from now and it was six months ago!!!  My one consolation that comes with the marking of this date is that the days will start getting longer by 2 minutes each day until June 21st...<br /><br />The above photo was taken back in the summer of 2009 around the time of the Summer Solstice... this is the same place I wrote about in a previous <a href="http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2007/02/what-inspires-part-3.html">article from 2 years ago</a>.   It will always continue to amaze me at how Nature can recover a landscape after it has been disturbed by man.  It amazes me even more that it can do it in such a beautiful and graceful manner...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-9071783186906743954?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/k-TUX6DQqROEyz-1a4ZnhfkP6EU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/k-TUX6DQqROEyz-1a4ZnhfkP6EU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/Ep0YVDiuYPQ" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/9071783186906743954/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=9071783186906743954";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/9071783186906743954?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/9071783186906743954?v=2";s:4:"link";s:85:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/Ep0YVDiuYPQ/what-inspires-part-8.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:70:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-inspires-part-8.html";}}i:16;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-6999714951402195108";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-12-18T11:40:00.005-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-12-18T11:56:49.593-05:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-12-18T11:56:49.593-05:00";}s:5:"title";s:24:"A unique looking bulb...";s:12:"atom_content";s:2921:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Syu0M-Re9II/AAAAAAAAA8k/B2ZpTdVfgfw/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Syu0M-Re9II/AAAAAAAAA8k/B2ZpTdVfgfw/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416621111810913410" border="0" /></a>If you are into the spring bulb scene and are looking for something a bit more in the wow factor than planting various colors of tulips in your garden...try the Crown Imperial Lily!  otherwise known as the Fritillaria imperalis Aurora.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Syuy5qJQr9I/AAAAAAAAA8M/2yugBqdHpIA/s1600-h/Crown+Imperial+Lily.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Syuy5qJQr9I/AAAAAAAAA8M/2yugBqdHpIA/s400/Crown+Imperial+Lily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416619680478572498" border="0" /></a>I fist stumbled upon this stately looking plant while visiting someone's home last spring.  In my years of gardening I had never seen this one before and wanted to find out more about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SyuzGm4uzxI/AAAAAAAAA8U/v8ZrW-6483c/s1600-h/Crown+Imperial+Lily+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SyuzGm4uzxI/AAAAAAAAA8U/v8ZrW-6483c/s400/Crown+Imperial+Lily+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416619902942236434" border="0" /></a>They will grow in climate zones 5 to 8 and reach a height of about 36" to 39" (inches).  The bloom time is in spring just before everything leafs out...about the same time as the tulips come up. I have also seen this flower in a yellow color as well.  So if you are looking for something to make people stop and enjoy your garden with a sense of wonder... try popping a few of these bulbs in the garden.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-6999714951402195108?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9_AKbMlXHB-1oRyXvwt1cjhEiVU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/9_AKbMlXHB-1oRyXvwt1cjhEiVU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/9p-QD-HIFeI" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/6999714951402195108/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=6999714951402195108";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/6999714951402195108?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/6999714951402195108?v=2";s:4:"link";s:84:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/9p-QD-HIFeI/unique-looking-bulb.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:69:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/12/unique-looking-bulb.html";}}i:17;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-475305712802233922";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-11-25T11:10:00.012-05:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-03-28T12:21:53.706-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2010-03-28T12:21:53.706-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:39:"The evolution of a front yard landscape";s:12:"atom_content";s:4180:"This project is still underway... the electrician is scheduled to come in and wire things up and then the garden beds will be prep'd with soil, then covered with mulch for the winter.  The final stage of the project will be planting the garden beds in Spring time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1X7LKuswI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/saj5Q65XRSw/s1600/Front+yard+landscape2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1X7LKuswI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/saj5Q65XRSw/s400/Front+yard+landscape2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408075401663525634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1Yf-SjN2I/AAAAAAAAA7w/UF7_XZY0mnY/s1600/Front+yard+landscape3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1Yf-SjN2I/AAAAAAAAA7w/UF7_XZY0mnY/s400/Front+yard+landscape3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408076033861826402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1YbADgHzI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Krok1LvSyPA/s1600/Front+yard+landscape.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1YbADgHzI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Krok1LvSyPA/s400/Front+yard+landscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408075948436234034" border="0" /></a>Paul Glowala (416-723-0030)  seen here...hard at work on his masonry project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1YDKx9liI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/oLFUdYjZ7ko/s1600/Front+yard+landscape1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1YDKx9liI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/oLFUdYjZ7ko/s400/Front+yard+landscape1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408075538998597154" border="0" /></a><br />The end result of the carefully planned out stone work...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1bzv343RI/AAAAAAAAA74/MRYeTBTjVNk/s1600/Natural+Stone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sw1bzv343RI/AAAAAAAAA74/MRYeTBTjVNk/s400/Natural+Stone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408079672124169490" border="0" /></a><br />I am still amazed at how sharp this project ended up looking.  My clients did a lot of research on stone materials and worked closely with me on the colors and patterns that would be displayed in the design.   The new front entrance to the home has enhanced the look and feel of the space.  I can't wait to see it finished with the planting.<br /><br />(Natural stone used in this project: Indiana Limestone coping for the steps, walls and boarder of the patio/walkway. Indiana Limestone wall stone for the planter wall and free standing wall...plus riser faces in the steps.  The dark infill of flagstone is one of my new favorites...Imperial Black Banas Flagstone)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-475305712802233922?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7NgYqc4QJp-JdQ4OFnVxjkfgDFQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7NgYqc4QJp-JdQ4OFnVxjkfgDFQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/X9_BP8tU2Ro" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:153:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/475305712802233922/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=475305712802233922";s:9:"link_edit";s:74:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/475305712802233922?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:74:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/475305712802233922?v=2";s:4:"link";s:98:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/X9_BP8tU2Ro/evolution-of-front-yard-landscape.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"5";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:83:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/11/evolution-of-front-yard-landscape.html";}}i:18;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-7471973796593323836";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-10-31T10:47:00.007-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-10-31T11:19:08.134-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-10-31T11:19:08.134-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:28:"Landscape masonry edicate...";s:12:"atom_content";s:3464:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxUYgJym2I/AAAAAAAAA7A/4xOP--vJwPg/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxUYgJym2I/AAAAAAAAA7A/4xOP--vJwPg/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398782833234975586" border="0" /></a>As I have always mentioned before... Landscape Architecture is about using materials from an existing structure to bring into the landscape and tie things together.  This particular project was about just that...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxTHf1Lm4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/xMKoUyF8yPE/s1600-h/front+yard+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxTHf1Lm4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/xMKoUyF8yPE/s400/front+yard+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398781441579129730" border="0" /></a>The homeowner was very fun to work with from the start.   When I first arrived on his project he asked me to drive up and down his street and pay attention to all the homes on his street....look at all the landscape ideas they have done....then come back and show him something different!!! (I like a challenge!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxTuf5DAiI/AAAAAAAAA6w/zQhPEDUGkBU/s1600-h/front+yard+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxTuf5DAiI/AAAAAAAAA6w/zQhPEDUGkBU/s400/front+yard+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398782111610241570" border="0" /></a>I did exactly that and came up with the walls and pillars matching the stonework on the home.   I decided to go with squares and rectangles as the paving shapes for the pathway rather than sweeping curved lines.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxT4WcH-QI/AAAAAAAAA64/PeAm2-IwAiA/s1600-h/front+yard+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SuxT4WcH-QI/AAAAAAAAA64/PeAm2-IwAiA/s400/front+yard+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398782280871704834" border="0" /></a>In the end, the client was very pleased and the look of the landscape was said to bring a bit of the old Forest Hill in Toronto look... into the Suburbs of the G.T.A. (Greater Toronto Area).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-7471973796593323836?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hrGXc04FY8q05bbwI015fH9DBlk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hrGXc04FY8q05bbwI015fH9DBlk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/TTtXrNe-fNA" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/7471973796593323836/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=7471973796593323836";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7471973796593323836?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7471973796593323836?v=2";s:4:"link";s:87:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/TTtXrNe-fNA/retaining-wall-edicate.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:72:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/10/retaining-wall-edicate.html";}}i:19;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-4785171264448239601";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-10-01T12:22:00.007-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:55:48.093-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:55:48.093-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:22:"New Toronto Pool Bylaw";s:12:"atom_content";s:5426:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTlh-JRojI/AAAAAAAAA6g/XTdpTvkwBQM/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTlh-JRojI/AAAAAAAAA6g/XTdpTvkwBQM/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387683426022302258" border="0" /></a>This past year I have had a few questions posed to me about a new Bylaw in effect for the City of Toronto in regards to pools.  The questions are about pools <a href="http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3378"> being fenced in from all 4 sides</a> of the yard by  an enclosure between the house wall and the pool itself.  Basically, in my <a href="http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/09/city-of-toronto-pool-by-laws.html">previous article</a> I outlined my adventure on trying to find what the bylaws are for the City of Toronto.   Not a very fun adventure!<br /><br />So, for this article I decided to display a couple of diagrams to help illustrate the new bylaw....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTcbHAfo4I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/cdpLHjIi_Ks/s1600-h/Toronto-Pool-Bylaw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTcbHAfo4I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/cdpLHjIi_Ks/s400/Toronto-Pool-Bylaw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387673412537656194" border="0" /></a><br />Under the old bylaws, the above diagram displays what was acceptable (bylaw compliant) as a typical pool layout for the City of Toronto and is still acceptable for most areas outside of Toronto.  The diagram shows the pool location in relation to the property line and must meet certain setbacks (the minimum distance allowed for a pool to be built from the property line).  In Toronto the setback is  4 feet from the property line and in other areas of the GTA the pool must be 5 feet from the property line.<br /><br />There must also be a fence enclosure set in all around your backyard with self-closing/self-locking gates.  The fence itself must be built at a regulated height... which for a Toronto single residential property is 1.2 meters or 4 feet high.    Any door leading from the home to the enclosed pool area in the yard must have child safety locks installed as well (no longer acceptable in Toronto).  Garage doors leading into the enclosed pool area must also comply with child safety locks and a self-closing device.<br /><br />The new City of Toronto pool bylaw explained...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTlKYj-9zI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/LNlAJ4B9W58/s1600-h/New-toronto-Pool-Bylaw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SsTlKYj-9zI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/LNlAJ4B9W58/s400/New-toronto-Pool-Bylaw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387683020796786482" border="0" /></a><br />Basically, the above diagram displays what all the hype is about... as it was previously acceptable for you to have a pool enclosed on 3 sides of your yard by a fence and self closing gates with the home acting as your fourth side to the enclosure... you now have to incorporate an enclosure (fence with self-closing gate) that stands between the pool area and the back wall of your home...connected to the other fence enclosures to form a complete square.  The only way to get around this bylaw is to simply not have a door that opens or allows you access from your house into your backyard within the enclosed pool area.<br /><br />For that matter... windows that open into the enclosed area must also have locks that prevent the window from being opened more than 10 cm or 4 inches.<br /><br />So...where does that leave you?  If bricking in sliding glass doors that lead into your yard is not an option... then you must come up with a way to provide a 1.2 meter high...or 4 foot high barrier between your home and your pool!  My diagram displays a simple layout to provide a solution to the bylaw.  But what if you don't want the yard divided like that?<br /><br />There are in some ways, ideas that can address the bylaw and still keep your entertaining space open.  Playing with deck levels and elevation changes in your yard could help you to disguise a fence with a gate.   But there are the unfortunate circumstances  for some backyard layouts where you are simply stuck with the great wall of China going through your backyard!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-4785171264448239601?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kJZuPBPwVslbP6_DAlRtTe-YUnI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kJZuPBPwVslbP6_DAlRtTe-YUnI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/NmpIkJ7AAcM" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/4785171264448239601/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=4785171264448239601";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4785171264448239601?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/4785171264448239601?v=2";s:4:"link";s:87:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/NmpIkJ7AAcM/new-toronto-pool-bylaw.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:72:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-toronto-pool-bylaw.html";}}i:20;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-2719770878401041661";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-09-21T14:50:00.011-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:55:32.372-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:55:32.372-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:28:"City of Toronto pool By-laws";s:12:"atom_content";s:5351:"A great mystery is about to be revealed!  So if you live within the City of Toronto boundaries and are considering putting a pool in your yard...where would you find the bylaws that regulate pool construction online?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SrfX5pSlmvI/AAAAAAAAA4M/rKp17yFfsYs/s1600-h/toronto+pool+bylaws.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SrfX5pSlmvI/AAAAAAAAA4M/rKp17yFfsYs/s400/toronto+pool+bylaws.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384009264881048306" border="0" /></a>As a landscape designer, I asked this question myself...and did an extensive Google search for such bylaws that would regulate the construction of a pool in the City of Toronto...and came up with absolutely nothing!<br /><br />Now I know that the City of Toronto website posts all or most of their bylaws online in PDF format.  This is done so that we can quickly look them up and pretend to be a lawyer in understanding the legal terms and language used to write these bylaws...so that we can know if we are breaking a bylaw rule...or conforming to it.<br /><br />In order to figure out where the pool bylaws are hidden you have to look in the <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_447.pdf">City of Toronto Fence enclosure bylaws under the Toronto Municipal Code</a> ... yes folks...almost everything you wanted to know about putting a pool in your backyard is there under section 447-3...Swimming Pool Enclosures... and can only be found by searching with the keywords "Toronto Fence bylaws"!...and not the logical keywords... "Toronto Pool bylaws".   The only thing I could not seem to find online is the pool setbacks from the property line.  I guess that question is better answered by a quick phone call into the bylaw office...instead of hopelessly trying to find it online.<br /><br />Anyway, the original purpose of this article was set out to talk about a<a href="http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-toronto-pool-bylaw.html"> new "Toronto Pool bylaw"</a> in which you are now required to install 4 sided pool fence enclosures instead of the traditional 3 sided enclosures that incorporated the use of your house wall as the 4 th side to enclose your pool....but this will be discussed in the next article...<br /><br />follow up....so I am still bugged by the fact I cannot find pool bylaws online...I decided to investigate this further by calling into the City  (Access Toronto 416-338-0338) and spoke with a service rep for a few minutes.  He was very helpful in terms of trying to figure things out...but he was stumped because he could not find any information on his data base.  So I got redirected to another number...had to give my home address in order to talk to a zoning examiner for my area...<br /><br />...but then I was told I no longer lived in the Former North York area...it is now the West District(???) ...somehow my property got shifted out of North York and slotted into Etobicoke... Anyway, I said I am making a general inquiry for Pool Bylaws in Toronto!  I was then told...it is different for different districts of Toronto (???????)  and I would have to call another number for my area.  So I told the lady...basically I have to pretend I am putting a pool in at my home in order to find out information on pool bylaws?  She said...I should not be doing that!!!<br /><br />By this point I was having a good morning laugh... I told her... this is part of my job, I need to know this information because I like to be informed when potential clients call me up and ask me questions... she said...I understand that sir, but you need to give a specific address for where the pool is being built.  So I said...okay, I want to put one in at my location!  ...I figured I would get somewhere that way.... she gave me a new number to call for the "West District" and I got someone's voice mail box that was already full and I could not leave a message.<br /><br />I just called another number for the Etobicoke/"York" district...got an automated response which then directed me to another voice mail...I could either leave a message or go in person to make inquiries!  I'm still laughing here...<br /><br />So........... all in all....pool setbacks remain just as elusive on the City of Toronto phone network as they do online.  So I guess my best suggestion would be to find out what district you live in for the City of Toronto....and pay them a visit in person!<br /><br /><br />Let me know what you find out!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-2719770878401041661?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bgLnI-q-X_1jTUxtWpjFPtL41IA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bgLnI-q-X_1jTUxtWpjFPtL41IA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/KjF2557ASBM" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/2719770878401041661/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=2719770878401041661";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/2719770878401041661?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/2719770878401041661?v=2";s:4:"link";s:93:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/KjF2557ASBM/city-of-toronto-pool-by-laws.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:78:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/09/city-of-toronto-pool-by-laws.html";}}i:21;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-7771096418242570201";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-09-11T13:05:00.006-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-09-14T12:55:49.448-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-09-14T12:55:49.448-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:17:"Mail Box Security";s:12:"atom_content";s:3335:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sq503gPXFAI/AAAAAAAAA4E/ThXre8JYL1U/s1600-h/HN+logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 68px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sq503gPXFAI/AAAAAAAAA4E/ThXre8JYL1U/s400/HN+logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381367101650310146" border="0" /></a>A little while back when I was visiting my Uncle in Florida, I noticed that he had a mailbox out at his curb but he always picked his mail up in the post office down the road.  So I inquired about it and asked him why he did not have his mail delivered to his home?<br /><br />His response was that he did not trust his neighbors as he suspected some were nosing through his mail before he got home from work.  He also said that every now and then there was a game of mailbox baseball that would happen and he would have to replace the box each time...<br /><br />So for a while he had used the post office box service at an extra expense and drove to his local post office to pick up his mail.  It seems a shame to me that one should be forced to do that because of the abuse suffered around the neighborhood.  So I started to research the issue on the internet...<br /><br />Basically I had discovered there were a number of products out there available to provide a solution for mail box security in terms of a beefed up mailbox with anti-theft measures.  This is one of the examples of a <a href="http://www.mailcase.com/">locking mailbox</a> made by a company called MailCase.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sq5xwLz2rfI/AAAAAAAAA30/bzR_UXVjElY/s1600-h/new-gray-smaller.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Sq5xwLz2rfI/AAAAAAAAA30/bzR_UXVjElY/s400/new-gray-smaller.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381363677372263922" border="0" /></a><br /><pre style="font-family: arial;" wrap="">From what I could see it looks like the MailCase has good security measures with the round lock and a re-inforced latch to keep people from ripping the door open.  It also has an interesting system for taking packages and is designed to keep people from reaching inside the box.  The designers have also taken extra measures for stopping rust.<br /><br />So...if you have similar issues with your mail and the security of your mailbox...perhaps looking into one of these systems is the way to go...<br /></pre><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-7771096418242570201?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/l4A1BGdttTLTIogHi8TGSETFXYw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/l4A1BGdttTLTIogHi8TGSETFXYw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/ea5lVwMyMQU" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/7771096418242570201/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=7771096418242570201";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7771096418242570201?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/7771096418242570201?v=2";s:4:"link";s:82:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/ea5lVwMyMQU/mail-box-security.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:67:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/09/mail-box-security.html";}}i:22;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-8511446455544739435";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-08-10T13:52:00.006-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-08-10T14:11:01.713-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-08-10T14:11:01.713-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:26:"The Man's Outdoor Kitchen!";s:12:"atom_content";s:2550:"Yep, this one was fun... now I just drew in a counter space for my client and suggested where the kitchen area should be in his yard.  What came out after was mostly my client's design ideas for his kitchen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBhAOBTxwI/AAAAAAAAA3k/RlRMhyhd7ps/s1600-h/the+man%27s+outdoor+kitchen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBhAOBTxwI/AAAAAAAAA3k/RlRMhyhd7ps/s400/the+man%27s+outdoor+kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368397412217112322" border="0" /></a>It was completed with:<br /><br />-A pizza oven that one will become popular with the neighbors, friends and family as you can open your own private backyard pizzeria!!!<br /><br />-A stainless steel counter top for EASY CLEANING!<br /><br />-A large BBQ cook-top for grilling top quality meats.<br /><br />-A large outdoor refrigerator for holding many a beer, meats waiting to be grilled and pizza dough plus toppings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBhMe08kFI/AAAAAAAAA3s/U7iIb6R1uRM/s1600-h/the+man%27s+outdoor+kitchen+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBhMe08kFI/AAAAAAAAA3s/U7iIb6R1uRM/s400/the+man%27s+outdoor+kitchen+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368397622887092306" border="0" /></a>Now all of this is designed with the idea that once you are done making a mess and partying around the bar area, you can take a garden hose or power washer and hose down everything to clean up!  Ready for next weekend's party....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-8511446455544739435?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PRbQUpGDWT4WLNs9kVRaN5kMCN0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PRbQUpGDWT4WLNs9kVRaN5kMCN0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/EpZC_Vp0QVI" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/8511446455544739435/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=8511446455544739435";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8511446455544739435?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/8511446455544739435?v=2";s:4:"link";s:85:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/EpZC_Vp0QVI/mans-outdoor-kitchen.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:70:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/08/mans-outdoor-kitchen.html";}}i:23;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-3259770272859395904";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-08-10T13:34:00.007-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:56:17.740-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-10-01T13:56:17.740-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:21:"The outdoor fireplace";s:12:"atom_content";s:2310:"A lot of times I am asked by clients if I can incorporate an outdoor fireplace in my designs for them.  It is usually the thought of having a lovely open log burning fireplace with a beautiful stone hearth and elaborate mantle piece to create some cozy little corner in the yard that brings in this request.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBbbR7Ce4I/AAAAAAAAA3c/JoZd0iUMOX8/s1600-h/outdoor+fire+place.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/SoBbbR7Ce4I/AAAAAAAAA3c/JoZd0iUMOX8/s400/outdoor+fire+place.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368391280051256194" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately in some urban areas, the fire code bylaws prevent open flame burning in this manner...check with your local bylaw office on regulations in this regard.  Now, having said that...there is nothing against having an outdoor gas fireplace...provided that it is installed by a  certified installer!  When you consider this option, the possibilities are endless in terms of the outdoor living room you can create..... the particular fireplace in the above picture is a gas unit made to look like a wood burning installation....perfectly safe and bylaw compliant!<br /><br />The Toronto Fire Bylaw says that open air burning is not permitted unless used for cooking purposes... <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/11476e3d3711f56e85256616006b891f/e9c55e41df107d69852572fe00566e54?OpenDocument">click here to read more</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-3259770272859395904?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z09dNBkYsp373ksw2b_ENVMWvkA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z09dNBkYsp373ksw2b_ENVMWvkA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~4/P2-vphLBzro" height="1" width="1"/>";s:12:"link_replies";s:155:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/feeds/3259770272859395904/comments/defaulthttps://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31788295&postID=3259770272859395904";s:9:"link_edit";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3259770272859395904?v=2";s:9:"link_self";s:75:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/31788295/posts/default/3259770272859395904?v=2";s:4:"link";s:82:"http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/QGlg/~3/P2-vphLBzro/outdoor-fireplace.html";s:11:"author_name";s:27:"Paul Corsetti (416)455-5515";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/08641753130780076265";s:12:"author_email";s:23:"paulcorsetti@rogers.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}s:10:"feedburner";a:1:{s:8:"origlink";s:67:"http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/08/outdoor-fireplace.html";}}i:24;a:15:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31788295.post-7957146110514389174";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-07-23T10:31:00.009-04:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-08-10T14:10:21.233-04:00";s:3:"app";a:1:{s:6:"edited";s:29:"2009-08-10T14:10:21.233-04:00";}s:5:"title";s:44:"Small urban backyard turned into Garden Room";s:12:"atom_content";s:6081:"The following article is a continuation of the "<a href="http://landscape-design.blogspot.com/2009/07/gated-security.html">Gated Security</a>" article.  This small backyard is located in the Greater Toronto area.  On average a 30 by 20 foot in size backyard will present some difficult options when planning a garden space.  To add to that difficulty is a 12 x 8 foot deck that comes off the second floor kitchen which can sometimes create the feel of a dark and gloomy space underneath it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh29UBZO-I/AAAAAAAAA2s/rYtwmGKJj0A/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh29UBZO-I/AAAAAAAAA2s/rYtwmGKJj0A/s400/backyard+landscape+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361666152103230434" border="0" /></a>Last year I was presented with a challenge to come up with an idea for a usable space that would address the poor drainage issues in this backyard.  Below was the first stage of the project... a small platform deck.  It is well below 20 inches from the ground level and is not attached to anything in terms of a structure, so no permit was needed.  The deck allowed the homeowners to at least entertain guests in their yard for the remainder of the 2008 summer season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3SanJlLI/AAAAAAAAA3E/FTxJp5T8Gls/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3SanJlLI/AAAAAAAAA3E/FTxJp5T8Gls/s400/backyard+landscape+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361666514649453746" border="0" /></a>Earlier this summer, the project came under way to the next phase of the design.  All of the grass was eliminated and replaced with 3/4"-clear gravel to allow for excellent drainage of the yard.  The soil here was heavily compacted by construction equipment during the subdivision construction and was never fine-graded to allow rain water to leave the yard properly. The effects of that did not allow for the soil to absorb water and so a drain pipe was put in place under the stone patio to help take water away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh4V3RXj3I/AAAAAAAAA3U/dKR3L-_cX_E/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh4V3RXj3I/AAAAAAAAA3U/dKR3L-_cX_E/s400/backyard+landscape+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361667673393958770" border="0" /></a>The end result was a living room space....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3dOjVWYI/AAAAAAAAA3M/_8dn8dI_eOs/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3dOjVWYI/AAAAAAAAA3M/_8dn8dI_eOs/s400/backyard+landscape+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361666700390783362" border="0" /></a>Followed by a future dining room and BBQ area... the natural stone patio you see in these photos is a natural stone material known as Banas stone.  It is brought in from India and sells for about $6.50 to $8.00 a square foot.  This particular color of the natural stone is "Imperial Black"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3DubCDfI/AAAAAAAAA20/q3onWEF5Qas/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3DubCDfI/AAAAAAAAA20/q3onWEF5Qas/s400/backyard+landscape+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361666262269300210" border="0" /></a>All the plant material and decking came from a local Home improvement store.  Although the plantings look thin and small, they will mature in the years to come and fill in to create a very lush looking space.    <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3LTrw6WI/AAAAAAAAA28/PxUnyszfqQA/s1600-h/backyard+landscape+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8I2nzmt7IN8/Smh3LTrw6WI/AAAAAAAAA28/PxUnyszfqQA/s400/backyard+landscape+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361666392530676066" border="0" /></a>The entire space was designed and created by a vision that kept things simple.  Keeping a low budget in mind and the fact that free "family and friends" labor was provided... the yard was able to come to a complete state for around $5000 (Not including the furniture).  Armed with a simple landscape design plan and the proper "do-it-yourself" knowledge, a 20 by 30 space can become a very pleasant garden room which acts as an extension of your house.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31788295-7957146110514389174?l=landscape-design.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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