#garden designers canberra

[foxmowigact]

Fox Mowing ACT is top handyman service provider in Canberra. We offer a wide range of home odd jobs, from repairs to installations. Call 1800 369 669 now!

[unicefindia]

Mulch - Midcentury Landscape

Ideas for a sizable mid-century modern desert and a summertime formal mulch front yard garden.

[bookman-dgm]

Mulch Front Yard in Canberra - Queanbeyan An example of a large mid-century modern desert and full sun front yard mulch formal garden in summer.

[ghost8oy]

Canberra - Queanbeyan Deck Pergolas Large ground-level deck idea for a contemporary backyard with a pergola

[sorryclarence]

Modern Landscape Canberra - Queanbeyan Design ideas for a mid-sized modern privacy and full sun backyard formal garden with decking in spring.

[chonxevn]

Contemporary Deck An illustration of a sizable, modern backyard deck with a pergola

[sakurafarron]

Canberra - Queanbeyan Midcentury Landscape Inspiration for a sizable mid-century modern gravel front yard with desert and full sun landscaping in the summer.

[marca-espana]

Canberra - Queanbeyan Pergolas Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard ground level deck remodel with a pergola

[oleg-rybak]

Contemporary Deck - Pergolas

[camillasgirl]

The King and Queen will visit Australia and Samoa

Their Majesties The King and Queen will undertake an Autumn Tour from Friday 18th – Saturday 26th October 2024. This will include a Royal Visit to Australia, State Visit to The Independent State of Samoa and attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024. 

The King’s visit to Australia will be His Majesty’s first to a Realm as Monarch, whilst the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa is the first The King will attend as Head of the Commonwealth. In both countries, Their Majesties’ engagements will focus on themes designed to celebrate the best of Australia and Samoa, as well as reflecting aspects of The King and Queen’s work.  

Australia 

In Australia, His Majesty, as Head of State, accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen, will visit Parliament House, in Canberra, where Their Majesties will be welcomed by the Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Albanese. His Majesty will address a reception attended by political and community leaders, and prominent Australians who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a variety of fields, including health, arts, culture and sports. Their Majesties will pay their respects to the Fallen, laying a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and visiting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial, ‘For Our Country’. The King and Queen will conduct a Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy, in Sydney Harbour. 

On the theme of sustainability, The King will visit CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, meeting firefighters and learning more about the centre’s work to combat the bush fires which devastate millions of hectares of Australian land each year. Their Majesties will tour the National Botanic Gardens, home to the largest living collection of Australian native plants in the world, where they will learn about Indigenous plant use. They will also hear from staff and volunteers about how climate change is affecting biodiversity.

The King, who has this year been receiving treatment for cancer, will meet Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, both Australians of the Year, and will hear about the work they do to help those affected by melanoma, one of Australia’s most common cancers. 

Meanwhile, Her Majesty’s programme will also reflect the themes of her wider work, including her passion for encouraging reading and literacy and her desire to raise awareness of domestic and family violence. At a library in Sydney, Her Majesty will meet children participating in a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop. In Canberra, The Queen will join a discussion on domestic and family violence, with some of those whose lives been affected by it, and experts who work in the field. Her Majesty will also meet representatives of GIVIT, a charity which matches donors with those in need, of which she is Patron.

Their Majesties will attend a community BBQ in Western Sydney, sampling a range of produce from across New South Wales, experiencing the cultural diversity of Australian communities and meeting local residents. The King will also meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and groups to learn about their work in supporting local community and strengthening culture. 

Samoa

Their Majesties’ State Visit to Samoa will celebrate the warm bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has been further strengthened by Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM 2024. The King and Queen will receive a formal welcome to the country, in the form of an ‘Ava Fa’atupu ceremony, before meeting Samoans at an engagement to highlight aspects of Samoan traditions and culture. His Majesty will also spend time with young people and community and faith leaders. 

The King’s programme will, in addition, reflect the theme of sustainability and biodiversity, in support of one of the key themes of CHOGM – ‘A Resilient Environment’, and the meeting’s focus on oceans. His Majesty will visit both a mangrove forest and a National Park, witnessing the work which is carried out by local communities to restore and protect both these vital ecosystems. He will also plant a tree in Samoa’s Botanical Garden, marking the opening of a new area within the site, which will be called ‘The King’s Garden’.  Meanwhile Her Majesty’s engagements will again focus on the wider themes of her work. The Queen will visit an aoga faifeau (traditional Samoan Pastor’s School) to see first-hand how pupils are taught to read and write. Her Majesty will also visit the Samoa Victim Support Group, an organisation which assists survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, where she will learn more about the services the group provides to those in crisis.

CHOGM 2024

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa will bring together delegations from 56 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. The overall theme of this year’s meeting is: ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth’.

In His Majesty’s first Commonwealth Day message as Sovereign, in March 2023, The King said of the Commonwealth: ‘Its near-boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold.’ CHOGM 2024 will see some of that ambition and unity on display with an emphasis on resilience across 4 key areas – resilient societies and peoples, resilient democratic institutions, a resilient environment and resilient economies. 

As Head of the Commonwealth, The King, accompanied by The Queen, will attend the CHOGM Opening Ceremony and will host a Dinner for Commonwealth Heads of Government. The King will also host a Reception for New Heads of Government and will attend the CHOGM Business Forum to hear about progress on sustainable urbanisation and investment in solutions to tackle climate change. 

Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment is one of CHOGM’s key themes, and Her Majesty will attend a side event to the Women’s Forum on the subject of ‘Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth’, with a focus on eliminating violence against women and improving health. 

[foxmowigact]

Fox Mowing ACT is a leading provider of pre-sale and end-of-lease gardening services in Canberra. We help prepare your home for Pre-sale. Call 1800 369 669 now!

[acthouselandscapingm]

Creating a Beautiful Home: How ACT House & Landscaping's Services Can Enhance Your Property

As the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." And what's not to love about returning to a beautiful abode after a long day? In addition, a well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing home can improve one's mental health and well-being. So, if you want to elevate your property's visual appeal, you've come to the right place!

ACT House & Landscaping offers top-notch landscaping services that transform your outdoor space into an oasis. So, whether you want to add some vibrant flowers or create a cozy seating area, our team of experts has got you covered. So, keep reading as we share how landscaping can enhance your property and make it stand out.

If you're looking for ways to improve your home's curb appeal, consider ACT House & Landscaping's landscaping services. We can help you create a beautiful, welcoming outdoor space that will make your home the envy of the neighborhood.

Our experienced professionals will work with you to design and install a custom landscaping plan that meets your needs and budget. We'll consider your property's unique features and recommend how to utilize them best. We'll also work with you to select the right plants, trees, and shrubs to thrive in our climate and provide year-round interest.

Benefits of Professional House Landscaping Services in Canberra

Landscaping your property can increase its value, make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors, and improve your curb appeal. Professional house landscaping services in Canberra can provide the expertise and knowledge necessary to ensure your landscaping project succeeds.

When you hire a professional landscaping company, you can be confident that your landscaping will be installed correctly and stand up to the elements. Professional landscapers have the experience and training necessary to select the right plants for your climate and soil type, and they can also provide advice on how to care for your plants so that they thrive.

A well-landscaped yard can also save you money on your energy bills. Shade trees and other plantings can act as a natural air conditioner, cooling your home in the summer and providing insulation in the winter. In addition, the strategic placement of plants can help block wind, further reducing energy costs.

Professional landscapers can help you create an outdoor living space that you and your family will enjoy for years. Whether you want a simple garden or something more elaborate, professional landscapers can work with you to create a space that meets your needs.

Ideas for Enhancing Your Home with Landscaping Services

Your home is your haven, and you want it to look its best. But sometimes, it takes time to figure out where to start. That's where ACT House & Landscaping comes in. We're experts at enhancing homes with landscaping services that are both beautiful and functional.

Add curb appeal with a new front lawn or garden. First impressions matter, so make sure your home looks its best from the street. We can design and install a new lawn or garden to make your home stand out.

Create an outdoor living space you'll love spending time in. Whether you're looking for a place to relax, entertain, or enjoy the outdoors, we can help you create the perfect space for your needs. We can design and build decks, patios, pergolas, gazebos, and more.

Add interest and texture with planting and hardscaping features. Adding trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plantings can give your home instant curb appeal. And incorporating hardscaping features like stone walls, pathways, water features, and more can add interest and texture to your yard while increasing its value.

Bring your vision to life with a custom landscape design plan. We can work with you to create a plan for House Garden design in Canberra that perfectly fits your style, needs, and budget.

In Short!

We hope this blog has shown you how our services can help create a beautiful home. Whether you're looking to add curb appeal or want your property to look its best, they have the expertise and experience to make your dream a reality. From design and installation to home maintenance in Canberra, their team is committed to providing high-quality service to achieve the desired results. With ACT House & Landscaping on your side, creating a gorgeous outdoor space has never been easier!

[unicefindia]

Midcentury Landscape Canberra - Queanbeyan Photo of a large mid-century modern rock and full sun front yard gravel formal garden in summer.

[justforbooks]

This is a necessary book. At a time when the future of cities is being discussed worldwide, Joseph Rykwert offers us an overview of the subject from its tentative beginnings in the Middle East some 10,000 years ago to the extraordinary experience of Mexico City today, with its population of 20m and rising. Has the city been a force for good or bad? When do measures of creative chaos in the life and form of cities tip over into conditions of alienation and dystopia? And what can we do to make our cities happy and healthy places to live in when they are shaped in part by economic forces largely beyond our control?

These are important questions. But before any answers, it must be said that the title of Rykwert's beautifully written book is a bit of a lie. This celebrated architectural historian is really telling us the intriguing story of how our cities - including London, Paris, Berlin, Mexico, Canberra, Brasilia and the author's beloved New York - got to be the way they are today. Rykwert is at his best when guiding us effortlessly through the past 10,000 years of city-making and at his happiest revisiting the individual buildings he cares most about.

As to how we can best influence positive change in our cities, instead of looking for strictly 21st-century solutions he takes us back to ancient Greece where the city was perfected - or so those of us at the tail end of long generations of classically educated Romantics still like to believe. The Greeks, says Rykwert, used the word "polis" to describe both the city and a favourite dice and board game rather like backgammon that depended on the interplay of chance and rule. Chance and rule: this is how they played games and designed cities. It remains, he says, perhaps the ideal way of making humane cities 2,500 years on from the completion of the Parthenon.

The city has not been shaped, Rykwert believes, by the kind of relentless impersonal forces of which Marx wrote; instead it is a "willed artefact . . . a human construct in which many conscious and unconscious factors played their part. It appeared to have some of the interplay of the conscious and unconscious that we find in dreams". Like dreams, the form of cities is malleable, and as a happy consequence we can do something to change them for our own ends.

Cities, says Rykwert in a revealing history-is-about-chaps moment, "are the aggregate products of the choices that were made by individuals". They do not develop organically - "they are too consciously manipulated" for that - but "develop quite unnaturally by jumps, by fits and starts". This "abrupt and uneven jigsaw of conscious and unconscious workings is exactly what I have always found both fascinating and perplexing". You and me both, professor.

So when did the city go off the rails in so many people's minds and experience? What happened to the golden age of fifth-century Athens? Rykwert, an unashamed city-lover, reminds us that the city has always been under attack by critics who have seen it as a symbol of humankind's fall from grace. Here is Andrew Marvell, quoting from Genesis: "And Cain . . . builded a city; & called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch" (Gen 4:17). What the poet wishes to say is that the first city was built by a murderer as a shelter for sinful humanity driven out of the garden of Eden.

Not a promising start, then. As for the Greeks, not all of them were in love with the "polis"; it was mocked by Aristophanes, while Horace, Martial and Juvenal all laid into Rome. Rykwert might have quoted Julius Caesar here, too: the great soldier and controversial republican dictator com plained loudly in letters about the noise that continued throughout the Roman night and kept him awake. As for the early Christians, their ideal city was, of course, the heavenly or New Jerusalem described in gridded detail by St John in the Apocalypse. Intriguingly, Rykwert goes on to show how idealistic Christian sects - the Shakers, for example - were to build earthly settlements and buildings along St John's divine lines. The heavenly city could, in an unsatisfactory temporal way, be recreated in outline on earth.

Earthly cities, full of people making things and money, dancing, eating, singing and making love, can never be as squeaky clean as the New Jerusalem. A healthy, happy city will always be a bit messy, abounding with energy, passion and creativity and the disorder these qualities bring in their Dionysian wake. Rykwert is not against disordered cities, but against those that have lost their soul. No ideal resolution is possible, he argues, in big cities, partly because we all have different visions of what a city might be - the Shoreditch artist's idea will be as different from the Mayfair property developer's as the child sewing dresses in a Calcutta sweatshop will be from a Hollywood starlet shopping for the latest six-figure frocks on Fifth Avenue.

There may be no solution, says Rykwert, but by learning from history we can begin to understand the rules of the city-making game. We can see what to do and what not to do; what will make us happy and what will make us sad. What seems to have made so many of us sad at one time or another is the industrial city on overdrive and the subsequent dumb attempts - postmodern architecture with all its trite, whimsical conceits, for example - to tidy it up as it moves into a post-industrial phase. Rykwert spins through the creation of the industrial city and the ills spawned in its wake. But he is never so bald as to suggest, like some latter-day Aristophanes, Martial or Marvell, that all was wrong with the industrial city. It gave Rykwert himself his favourite "polis", New York. Without Bessemer and his invention of steel smelting or Otis and the first safe passenger lift, the charismatic Manhattan skyline would never have lifted off.

What Rykwert shows to devastating effect is the degree to which architects paid little heed to the plight of the inexorably expanding 19th-century city. They toyed with the design of public buildings, compounded grand urban planning theories (some quite mad), but only rarely considered the dystopian plight of the masses somehow surviving among rows of shabby buildings not fit to be called architecture, awash with sewage and ravaged by disease. "From this filthy sewer flows gold," wrote the social observer Alexis de Tocqueville in 1835; he was describing Manchester, workshop of the world.

A linear city that would have stretched from Madrid to St Petersburg, a gallery of railways set on arches around central London, garden cities, cities of towers: all these get their turn under Rykwert's microscope. When the professor gets to the 21st-century city, however, you can see him beginning to throw up his hands. We now live in a world of theme parks, of ersatz urban experiences, cyberspace and SimCity (city making reduced to a digitised game in which money rules). We have the city as all-but-redundant tourist attraction (Venice) and the instant new cities of southern China (Shenzhen, for example) as parodies of their old western counterparts. In a "the world is too much with us/getting and spending we lay waste our powers" moment, Rykwert turns to Wordsworth for solace. Faced with such inanities, he finds comfort in these lines:

The eye - it cannot choose but see;

We cannot bid the ear be still;

Our bodies feel, wher'er they be,

Against or with our will.

In other words, as sensual, sentient beings, we react viscerally against these dystopian visions, from SimCity to Shenzhen. And, in Rykwert's case, retreat to the glorious bustle of Manhattan. Here the city, for all the attempts to denigrate or undermine it by crude planning, mean building or escapist criticism, "remains unbeaten . . . though under constant siege [New York] has maintained its astonishing and contrary vitality". The greatest game of "polis" ever played, he might have said. You may well take issue with Rykwert and question whether New York is indeed the Athens of our day; but few authors can take you on such a convincing, rigorous and enjoyable journey from the fall of Adam and Eve to an electric-aided sunset over Manhattan. Rykwert's city game is well worth playing.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[bumblebeeappletree]

Did you know that water harvesting is a prevention method for both floods and drought?

Using the free power of gravity along with vegetation, Passive water harvesting is creating a living sponge to capture store and use rainwater to build a resilient, vibrant garden for both wet and dry weather.

Dr Cally Brennan, founder of Canberra Permaculture Design and Education, has practised permaculture and water harvesting for over 10 years.

In this short film, Cally will give you a toolbox of skills from preparation to storage and how to easily (and sustainably) water your garden.

00:00 Intro

1:05 Capture & Drainage

1:45 French Drains

2:40 Swale System

5:02 Tools

8:23 Trench System

8:58 Wicking Beds

9:42 Thank You

https://www.canberrapermaculturedesig...

https://www.canberraenvironment.org/

With assistance from the ACT Government under the ACT Community Zero Emissions Grants Program

[duchessofvastergotland]

Full itinerary for the Crown Princess couple’s visit to Australia and New Zealand

Earlier this month it was announced that Victoria and Daniel would travel to Australia and New Zealand for their first joint overseas visit of 2023. The court have now confirmed the itinerary:

13th February (Canberra)

Visit to the Swedish Embassy in Canberra where they will meet with the Ambassador and Embassy staff

Welcome ceremony at the National Museum of Australia with local indigenous people and a tour of the museum

Visit to Namadgi National Park to learn about the impact of the 2020 wildfires

Dinner at the Governor General’s residence

14th February (Canberra and Sydney)

Visit to the National Arboretum to plant a tree

Climate meeting at the Australian National University followed by a seminar on energy security, with a speech from Victoria

Bilateral meetings with Australian ministers

Travel to Sydney for a reception at Government House

15th February (Sydney)

Attendance at the Sweden-Australia Sustainable Mining Summit

A guided tour of the Sydney Opera House

Visit to the botanic garden, including a viewing of a garden designed to mark World Pride

Visit to Saint Vincent’s Hospital which specialises in cancer care

Meeting with the Australian women’s national football team ahead of the 2023 World Cup

Evening reception for Swedish people in Australia at the Contemporary Art Museum

16th February (Wellington)

Visit to the National Museum Te Papa and view exhibition on nature, sustainability and traditional knowledge

Visit to Parliament for a meeting with the New Zealand-European Friendship Association

Bilateral meeting in the evening with representatives of the New Zealand government

17th February (Wellington)

Traditional Maori welcome ceremony at Wawhetu Maraeu

Meeting with young people ahead of the World Cup

Lunch at the Governor General's residence

Meeting on the electrification of the aviation industry

A guided tour of Zealandia Ecosanctuary, a protected natural area

Dinner at the residence of the Mayor of Wellington

18th February (Hamilton)

Visit to recycling plant Saveboard which recycles packaging and plastic waste to produce sustainable building materials

A guided tour of the Maori section of the Hamilton Gardens

Visit to a dairy producer to learn about sustainability efforts in the dairy sector in New Zealand and potential collaborations with Sweden