New Audi RS 6 Avant

The new Audi RS 6 Avant is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 turbo engine which takes it from 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds.

It will be available to order from early 2013.

Register for more information and updates on the Audi UK website

Garden Wisdom

 

If Nature is your Teacher your Soul will awaken ~ Paracelsus

 

Have you ever experienced a moment when the wafting fragrance of flower blossoms captured your attention and lifted you away?

Or when the birdsong around you was louder than the chatter in your head? This exquisite moment of 'stop time' can occur anywhere - while you bask in the warm morning sun or even while hurrying to your car. You may have stopped and looked around, enjoyed the trilling of the birds and felt a connection, for that brief instance, to the green world. 

 

 

 

That moment of awareness can become a more regular occurrence in your life if you study the web of Creation that occurs in a garden. Just as a wine connoisseur learns to relishes that first sip on his tongue; you can learn to savor a flower, a rock or even a breeze.

 

 

 

  Gardening and wine are very similar; although not essential to life, they enrich our everyday experience. 

 

Gardens are a microcosm of the pulsating tapestry of aliveness that exists around us.  They encourage us to delight in the green world and its glories. Being a gardener or garden lover allows us to savor the essence of what others may overlook. 

 

 

If we stop and take the time to appreciate even the littlest things, we may even be transported to that lovely  ‘stop time’ moment. 

 

 

 

More jewel tones for your Garden

 

Jewel tones are rich colors that resemble gemstones including emerald green ( 2013 color of the year),amethyst purple, ruby red, topaz yellow, sapphire blue, tourmaline green, and turquoise blue.

A jewel tone is bold and lends an air of distinction to a space. They bring a scintillating 'Pop' to a garden.  Complimentary jewel tones like amethyst purple and topaz yellow are especially popular.

Jewel tones look great indoors as well...I love this painting and chairs below...

But too much saturation can be overwhelming...You must temper your exuberance a little....

I mean, isn't the table above a little intense? Richness can lead to burn out...

Fire Spinner Ice Plant

But you can get away with lots of jewel tones when you use plants that fall into this category...

Smoke Bush

 

The smoke Bush Royal Pueple or Velvet Cloak fits in this category.

 

Jeweltone bouquet

 

Spello, Italy

 

Flowers also can be combined to become a Jewel Tone Medley...

 

Angelonia and Lime Rickey Heuchera - Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

 

Coleus works great to create a jewel tone planter
You can also add Jewel tone lanterns on your porch....

 

Or bathe an outdoor space in colored light...

 

 

 Or maybe just invite amazing butterflies into your garden...

 

 

Nature's Jewel Tones are the most captivating of all.

 

Family Fitness Ideas

Family Fitness Ideas

Combine Exercise and Chores:

On small pieces of paper, write down chores and body weight exercises. Throw the papers into a couple of hats and have everyone pick one of each. Maybe Dad gets to clean the bathroom and do a set of squats every few minutes until he is finished, while one of the children is cleaning the kitchen and doing forward lunges, etc.

Organize a Family Competition:
Have each family member pick an exercise at the beginning of the week and do as many reps as they can. Then train throughout the week with the goal of improving by the weekend. The family member who has the highest percentage increase is rewarded with a prize. Keep the focus on the fact that everyone is improving.

Establish a Family Fitness Night:
Designate one evening as family fitness night. Each week, a different person designs the family workout that you will all do together (swimming, rollerblading, walking, Frisbee golf, basketball, etc.) Everyone gets to do something they enjoy, and it will help to bring variety to your workouts. 

Incorporate Exercise into Daily Activities:
Establish family fitness rules: exercise during commercials every time you watch TV, stretch before bed each night, etc.  Purchase a few inexpensive items (jump rope, resistance bands, stability ball, dumbbells, etc.) and rotate them through the house on a daily basis. Treat them as scavenger hunt finds; for example, if you find the jump rope placed in the garage, you have to use it for one minute. Next time you may find it on the porch, or in the basement.

Exercise with a Goal in Mind:
Some prefer to exercise when they are training for a specific event.  As a family, sign up for an event that everyone can participate in and train for.  Organize and conduct workouts that would help train/prepare everyone for the event.

2013 Beetle Convertible

Here are some pics of the new 2013 Beetle Convertible just launched at the LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

50's Heritage model 

60's Heritage model 

70's Heritage model 

Repetition Creates a Serene Landscape

San Diego - Martin Luther King Park, Peter Walker 

 

To make a point, repeat yourself...

This is certainly true in a landscape, no matter what the size.

 

Steps are the best example of a repeating element in a garden. Steps can make a strong, repetitive statement...

They can be rustic:

 

(The Japanese gardeners knew it all)

(johnsen landscapes & pools - www.johnsenlandscapes.com)

They can be modern:

Steps Paul Banguy

Deliberate repetition in an outdoor setting makes a visual point and creates order which calms us immensely.

Ordered vs. chaos - most of us would choose ordered ...

 repeating plans, stepping stones, pavers, planters and more can create unity and rhythm...we like that.

Here are some examples of repeating elements outdoors -
there are so many. Try it at home - get a bunch of anything and line them up!
 

 

 

 

 

 

(Naumkeag, Stockbridge, Ma.

 

 

 

Make a Tin Can Man in Your Garden

There is no more fun than using something you've retrieved, found, saved or salvaged in a garden.

 It is especially fun if you make a tin can man from these items...

 

Its an old custom to reuse items wherever you can. Some call it Art, others call it Necessity.

Artists do this naturally. To them, any item is potentially art. Garden Art. Landscape Art.

httpwww.flickr.comphotoshorspool

And the can is so plentiful..and it rusts to a nice patina outdoors in the garden. 

Did you know that  British merchant Peter Durand invented and patented the tin can in 1810 and three years later the UK’s first commercial canning factory was opened - but the can opener was not invented until 50 years later?!  how did they open all those cans?

 

A tin Can Man can have such personality too....look at this one above : looks like Woody Allen in Sleeper:

 Richard E, made this sweet metal man below in Albany, NY....Richard explains, “I have been a Wizard of Oz fan since childhood, never missing the yearly showing on TV. The Tin Man is my favorite character.” Richard’s love for the movie inspired him to build a life-size Tin Man with “a moving heart that is activated by opening the door on his chest.”

of course - that is somewhat elaborate. You may want to try somethign a little less daunting...

and how do you connect these cans you ask? make a hole with scissors and use some wire and other items:

You can also add some gardener touches and grow hair out of his head:

My fave is the mix of cans and plastic:

This one is from the book by DK Kindersley  'Ready Set Grow!' - great instructions for making a tin can man....