Landscape Design and Water Conservation

January 23, 2012

New Education about Landscape Design and Water Conservation on the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water

Gina Samarotto of Samarotto Design Group Talks about Garden Design, Landscape Architecture and the Impact of Water.

Hear Sharon Kleyne's interview with Gina Samarotto on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes

Sharon Kleyne, host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water syndicated radio talk show, recently interviewed Gina Samarotto of the Samarotto Design Group of Poughkeepsie, NY, a leading landscape design firm. They discussed the benefits of incorporating water, and employing water conservation techniques, in garden and landscape design.

The interview may be heard on-demand on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes.

An important Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water objective is education about all aspects of water, including the esthetic and spiritual. Water is physically life sustaining but also soothing and uplifting. Even if you can't afford a landscape architect, you can utilize Mrs. Samarotto's ideas about water and design in your personal space, and support their inclusion in parks and other public areas.

Gina Samarotto graduated from Cornell University as a Landscape Architecture major because of her interest in outdoor living and open spaces. Sharon Kleyne noted that indoor environments tend to be more dehydrating and less healthy than outdoor environments (although outdoor air can become polluted). According to Sharon Kleyne, fresh outdoor air is always more natural and beneficial, especially with water around. Mrs. Samarotto agreed, pointing out that she also incorporates water in her indoor designs (fountains and showers) to humidify and create a relaxed, "outdoors" feeling. By bringing outdoors elements indoors, she blurs the line between indoors and outdoors.

Sharon Kleyne pointed out that indoor environments - insulated walls and windows and forced-air heating and cooling, can be physically dehydrating. According to Gina Samarotto, in Victorian England, people were afraid of fresh air and spent most of their time indoors (but they didn't have climate controls). Mrs. Samarotto adds that there is nutrition to be gained from the sun (Vitamin D) but that some of the Victorian attitude remains today. She also notes that 100 years ago, people often kept a pot of water on the woodstove to humidify the air.

In her outdoor designs, Mrs. Samatortto often utilizes water and concrete near the house (both of which require less maintenance than lawns and gardens). The goal is to crease spaces that "feel good" and in which all elements - air, light, water, earth and esthetics - work in harmony.

One of Mrs. Samarott's specialties is micro-landscapes, particularly in New York City. Micro-landscapes are utilized in postage-stamp sized backyards behind brownstones and on rooftops and balconies. Sometimes, she brings outdoor elements indoors, as with a fountain (the water in indoor fountains tends to evaporate quickly and must be refilled frequently). These strategies ground people to the natural environment despite the urban surroundings.

Sharon Kleyne asked about garden design and Mrs. Samarotto said she is a strong advocate of personal gardens. Not everyone can own a farm but there is a nutritional and spiritual benefit to producing some of your own food.

Gina Samarotto and Sharon Kleyne both expressed an interest in low-maintenance garden design. They agreed that people tend to over-water their gardens, flowers, shrubs and houseplants, which is poor water conservation.

Mrs. Samarotto is an advocate of "xeroscaping" - outdoor designs that require minimal water. She notes that herbs require less water than ornamental shrubs. She frequently uses rock gardens and lava rock garden designs with deep rooted "xeric" plants. Certain types of hydroponic gardens also conserve water..

Bottom line: you don't have to sacrifice form for function and good landscape design doesn't have to be a compromise or hugely expensive.

Website: www.samarottodesigns.com.

Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua Research, whose Nature's Tears® EyeMist®, a breakthrough hand-held personal all-natural water humidifying device that creates an instant envelope of fresh, clean humidity around your personal space. Nature's Tears® EyeMist® is available at www.BioLogicAqua.com, Amazon.com, drugstore.com and selected drugstores nationwide.

Listen to the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water Mondays, 10 a.m., PST/PDT. The syndicated radio talk show is heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes. Go to www.SharonKleyneHour.com for written summaries and on-demand replays. Also visit www.naturestears.com, whatistheeye.wordpress.com, "Nature's Tears EyeMist" on Facebook and "Bio-Logic Aqua" on Twitter.

© 2012 Bio-Logic Aqua Research (104)