Utah Valley Parade of Homes
Posted by gbennett in Cool Happenings on May 28th, 2009
Annual tradition will continue to showcase the best in local homebuilding
It’s time again to gas up the car, make lunch plans and buy tickets to the Utah Valley Home Builder Association’s annual Parade of Homes.
Since 2003, I have worked directly with the UVHBA to produce the magazine you receive with your tickets. Each year brings a slightly different feel. New trends in interior design, new appliances hitting the market and new landscapes dot the Valley. Each new idea means I can take something back to my own home and build on my dreams of my next home.
This year should be no different. The 2009 Parade of Homes will feature 27 homes of various sizes, shapes and locations. The largest is Home #1 in Alpine (built by Benchmark Construction) at just under 13,000 square feet. It features a racquetball court, indoor pool house and a state-of-the-art home theater.
But the great thing about this year’s Parade is that there are smaller homes as well. Several of the single family homes are around 2,000 square feet and there are condos featured that are 1,250 square feet. That means many potential home buyers who have been waiting for the right home at the right time could walk in and find the first-home of their dreams.
If you’re looking to make efficient use of your Parade attendance time, consider visiting the three homes located blocks apart in Santaquin (Homes 25-27) or hit the two Magleby Companies homes (Homes 2-3) located side by side in Highland.
The building industry has seen an increase in the number of people interested in remodeling and adding onto their existing homes. The Parade has something for those people as well. One of Knight West Construction’s featured homes (Home 11) and Hunter Development’s home (Home 17) are both remodels. Remodeling is a great way to make your home like new without needing to change schools, churches and neighbors.
The 2009 Utah Valley Parade of Homes starts May 29 and runs through June 13. Homes are open from noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday during the Parade. For tickets or for more information, visit www.UtahParade.com.
Central Utah Gardens, Orem
Posted by gbennett in A Little Extra Info on March 25th, 2009
Recently I interviewed Megan Ranstrom, conservation horiculturist with the Central Utah Gardens, and was really impressed with her and the Gardens.
I wrote about the Gardens in the Home & Garden section of Utah Valley Magazine, but I was barely able to scratch the surface of what they’re doing over there. Here’s a little more of what I learned.
First, the Central Utah Gardens are passed by hundreds of people each day, yet I doubt many know where they are. The Gardens are part of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District facilities located on the corner of University Parkway and 400 West in Orem. It’s centrally located, yet still has a sense of being tucked away.
Second, the Gardens are not just beautiful but educational. In fact, educating water-users throughout the Valley is one of the facility’s No. 1 priorities. It is used to show people what water-efficient landscaping is and how a slight change in philosophy can bring the same beauty and functionality with a fraction of the water use.
The Gardens have an area devoted to irrigation systems, showing visitors what each sprinkler type looks like and how it works. There is information on the water cycle (showing children where the water in the tap comes from) and tips on how to get great results from a smarter landscape. Experts with the Gardens and invited guests teach classes that are free to the public on a wide-range of subjects including “How to Control Utah’s Worst Weeds” (June 25) and “Vegetable Gardening” (April 11). Visit www.centralutahgardens.org/classSchedule.html for more complete information.
While you’re there, check out the Utah Native Plant Garden, which is located just south of the main Gardens. It highlights approximately 30 native species that work well for residential landscaping. These plants thrive in our harsh conditions.
Below are a couple of tips I picked up while I was there:
Use Grass Effectively
Megan pointed out that if the only time you walk on a section of grass is when you mow it, maybe you should find an alternative ground cover that uses less water. Megan is not anti-grass (in fact she admits no ground cover beats it for function), but she does advise against using grass where you don’t need it.
Look for Alternate Plants
One section of the Gardens shows two almost identical landscape area — one using water-efficient plants and the other using plants Utahns have traditionally used in landscaping. Point is: there is usually a substitute plant that looks and acts almost the same, but uses a fraction of the water. Every plant used in the Gardens has an identification sign with it. Plus, you can get a checklist of plants used in the Gardens for your own reference. Find one you like? Write it down and head to the nursery.
Use the Seven Principles of Water-Efficient Landscaping (Source: Central Utah Gardens)
1. Plan and design the landscape with water use in mind. This ensures there isn’t wasted space and that the landscape utilizes drainage patterns and areas of shade.
2. Check your soil. Sandy soil handles water much differently than clay. Adding compost can improve your soil and assist in getting the most out of your water.
3. Select the right plants. Make sure you group plants that require similar water levels together to make irrigation more effective. Find plants that use less water in our climate, but still give you the look and feel that you need.
4. Use lawn areas correctly. Make sure you keep them to a practical size and in areas where you’ll use them. Consider using tall fescue grass that uses less water than Kentucky bluegrass.
5. Irrigate effectively. Generally, water less frequently for longer periods, allowing the water to sink deeper into the soil and encourage strong root growth. Make sure irrigation systems are set up correctly and that all sprinklers are in working order.
6. Use mulch. Spreading mulch under trees and in planting beds helps cool the area and minimizes evaporation. Using at least three inches of mulch will minimize germinating weeds.
7. Maintain your landscape. Besides correct pruning and watering, make sure you monitor disease and pests. Control weeds to make sure their strong root systems don’t over power the roots of your plants. Fertilize only the minimum of what you need, because over-fertilizing increases water consumption.
For more information on the Central Utah Gardens, visit www.centralutahgardens.org or stop by (355 W. University Parkway, Orem).