Rising up along Portland’s west side is the lush and green Forest Park. Forest Park encompasses 5,170 acres within the city limits, on top of the Tualatin Mountain Range, and is home to over 110 species of birds and 62 species of mammals. City dwellers head to the park to explore 70 miles of trails, such as the National Recreation Trail-designated Wildwood Trail. The Upper and Lower Macleay Trails are also popular with Portlanders who want to get back to nature among the Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock-dominated forest. Although Forest Park is considered to be a great resource to the city now, it took decades to get Portland residents on board with the plan.

Landscape architect John L. Olmsted—who was the stepson of Central Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted—first proposed the plan for Forest Park in 1903. His proposal launched a battle between two ideological visions for the land. Olmsted and fellow landscape architects believed that creating natural spaces within the city would be important for future generations, while landowners and lumber companies believed the property should be used for commercial purposes.

Landscaping with Santa Rita Landscaping

The commercial interests initially won the fight, and the land that is now Forest Park was aggressively logged, while construction companies attempted to build housing developments. However, the unexpected expense of building roads on the mountain, coupled with the surrender of privately owned land in the area during the Great Depression, left an opening for those who wanted a park in the space. Finally, in 1945, the Portland City Club recommended that the land become a park. The Forest Park Committee of Fifty was formed, drawing members from the US Forestry Service and local civic organizations, to lobby the Portland City Planning Commission to designate the land as a park. In 1947, the commission approved the park, and it was dedicated to Forest Park in 1948. Today, the city and the Forest Park Conservancy, which grew out of the Committee of Fifty, continues to maintain and protect the parkland that Portland residents now hold dear.

When you design a commercial landscape for your Tucson office building or retail space, you not only need to think about the aesthetic components of your design, but you should also consider the functionality of it. All types of people may need to visit your business, so your landscape should create accessible pathways and minimize potential hazards, reducing your chances of facing liabilities due to inaccessibility or accidents and injuries on site. Your professional landscaping team can work with you to create the ideal design, which may include the following:

Pathfinding Lighting

Your landscape should be well lit, especially if your business is open early in the morning or in the evening. It is particularly important to incorporate downward-facing light fixtures along pathways and in the parking lot, so visitors can easily find their way to the entrance and avoid any hazards in the walkway.

Ample Pathways and Ramps

Your hardscaping is just as important—if not even more essential—than the natural features of your landscape. This includes all concrete walls, walkways, and ramps that may be incorporated into the design to ensure that people of all capabilities can get from the parking lot to your door. You do not have to compromise design to remain compliant with ADA regulations, so be sure to emphasize your creative vision as you discuss hardscaping ideas.

Shaded Seating Areas

If you have an ample outdoor area at your business, it may be nice for visitors to sit down outside and enjoy the scenery. Placing benches and other seating features under trees or patio structures can be a great way to open up space and make it more inviting for visitors.

Your commercial landscape is a reflection of your business as a whole, so give it the attention it deserves with Santa Rita Landscaping. To consult us about your design or landscape maintenance, give us a call at (520) 623-0421.

Dumbarton Oaks is not often the first attraction that comes to tourists’ minds when thinking about places to visit in Washington, D.C. In fact, many people haven’t even heard of this off-the-beaten-path Georgetown estate that offers a distinctive look at Byzantine and Pre-Columbian history in its museums as well as a wealth of outdoor scenery in meticulously kept gardens spanning dozens of acres.

Rich Garden History

Like many of the world’s great gardens, Dumbarton Oaks began as a humble piece of neglected land, which was later transformed as a homestead. In 1920, Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss purchased the 53-acre property that would become Dumbarton Oaks, and Mildred dedicated herself to designing the gardens with the help of landscape gardener, Beatrix Farrand. In 1940, the property was split, and 16 acres were given to Harvard University for research facilities focusing on Byzantine studies, Pre-Columbian studies, and landscape architecture.

Distinctive Garden Sections

As you explore the diverse properties of Dumbarton Oaks, you will find something to delight in every season. There are several distinctive sections, including the Orangery, Green Gardens, Beech Terrace, Urn Terrace, Rose Garden, Fountain Terrace, Lover’s Lane Pool, Orchard, and Prunus Walk. Guests are invited to stroll along narrow paths winding through the different garden sections, viewing the ornate hardscaped features and carefully manicured gardens. Because the estate was built on the highest point in Georgetown, it showcases wonderful views throughout, including those on the North Vista, Crabapple Hill, and Cherry Hill. During both the fall and spring, the gardens explode with color as leaves change and fall and blooms erupt along with the bushes and trees.

The inspiration for your residential or commercial landscape may come from anywhere, including the secluded and peaceful tropical paradise of Hawaii. That’s where you’ll find Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park, which is located on the beautiful island of Kauai. The gardens are open to the public, but only through private, guided tours, which help to promote the sustainability of the gardens and educate visitors about the unique landscape of the area and the distinctive sculptures throughout 240 acres.

Humble Beginnings

Na ‘Aina Kai began as the retirement home of Joyce and Ed Doty, who moved to Kauai from Northern California in 1982. The gardens began as a landscaping project and grew to become a diverse showcase of various landscapes, which were eventually donated in their entirety to a not-for-profit organization created by the Doty’s.

A Sustainable Future

The gardens have grown and evolved through the years and include features such as a lagoon designed to attract tropical birds, a Poinciana maze, and a breathtaking manmade waterfall. Each of these features was crafted not only to showcase the beauty of the Hawaiian landscape but also to promote a sustainable future and educate visitors about the resources of the United States’ most treasured island state.

Unique Artistic Features

Of course, Na ‘Aina Kai is not just landscaping. It features one of the largest collections of bronze statues in the country. These statues range from humbly small to impressively large, and they enhance the amazing natural beauty of the tropical flora and fauna surrounding them.

The blank slate of an empty lot can fill a homebuilder’s imagination with a wealth of ideas for a beautiful new home, but what about the landscape that surrounds the house? Landscape design can make or break a property, and it is one of the first things that potential homebuyers will notice, so you should have a partner for your home building company to provide exceptional design and labor. Santa Rita Landscaping might be your new go-to contractor for landscape design in Tucson and Southern Arizona since we already serve many quality custom homebuilders and provide a wide range of services to fit any project needs.

Create More Beautiful Properties

We can provide services in every phase of your project, from a lot of preparation to the finishing landscape details. This will ensure that properties not only look their best but that they are functionally designed to limit hazards such as flooding or overgrown trees. In addition to individual properties, we can assist in designing community spaces and parks, which will add further appeal to a developing subdivision.

Ensure Deadlines Are Met

With any contractor you partner with, you want to be confident that your project will not be held up by unmet deadlines and unexpected delays. Santa Rita Landscaping has a solid history of quality, timely work, so you will not have to worry about missing important deadlines that can sideline your whole project.

Join Other Reputable Home Builders

If you aren’t already convinced that we should serve as your landscaping contractor, you might look to some of our existing clients. We work with many of the largest homebuilding companies in Arizona, and many have become long-term clients.

For a first-hand look at the commercial landscaping services offered at Santa Rita Landscaping, visit our website or give us a call at (520) 623-0421.