Growth and Development of Introduced Larix Mill. Species in the Taiga Zone (Karelia)

The study reports results of research carried out from April to October during 1988–2016 at the Botanical Garden of Petrozavodsk State University (South Karelia, middle taiga subzones). Three introduced species of the genus Larix (Larix sibirica Ledeb., L. leptolepis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Gord, and L. dahurica Turcz. ex Trautv.) were studied. The growth of shoots and needles in different species begins, reaches its culmination, and ends almost simultaneously, differing by no more than one week across the species. L. sibirica shows the highest growth rate. The timing of growth, culmination, and the dynamics of growth of shoots and needles are largely determined by variations in precipitation, temperature, and humidity. The direction and strength of such an effect may vary from year to year. The dates of phenological phases of the Larix species studied here are chiefly determined by the air temperature in the current growing season and the dates of formation of wintering buds in the previous growing season. Bud swelling and opening begins almost simultaneously in the studied species. Most of the other phenological phases begin and end earliest in L. sibirica and latest in L. leptolepis. All the studied species, primarily L. sibirica, are promising for residential landscaping and creation of artificial plant communities in Karelia

PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES OF RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPING DEVICES

This article discusses the landscaping of the residential area as a whole and the arrangement of landscaping of individual zones of the residential complex. The features of the arrangement of landscaping, individual parts of the complex are also considered.

Consumers Preferences for Plant Size, Type of Plant Material and Design Sophistication in Residential Landscaping

How much value do consumers place on a good landscape? Self-selected attendees to a Detroit, MI, flower show indicated that plant size was the most important factor in the perceived value of a landscape. Holding other factors equal, increasing from the smallest size plant generally available for installation to the largest size defined in our study increased perceived home value by 5.0%. Design sophistication was almost as important as size. Holding other factors equal, upgrading from a traditional foundation planting to a sophisticated design that incorporated multiple bed and curved bedlines increased perceived home value by 4.5%. The type of plant material used was the least important. The relative importance of plant material selection as a factor contributing value added to the home by the landscape was almost half that of plant size and over 40% less than design sophistication. The conjoint model produced from 158 survey responses predicted that from the least valued landscape to the most valued landscape the perceived value of the home increased 12.7%.

Southwest Home Horticulture: Using Video and the Internet in the Instruction of Nonmajors

A distance learning course called Southwest Home Horticulture was developed and implemented at Arizona State University using video and Internet technologies to give nonhorticulture students an overview of urban horticulture in the southwestern United States. Fourteen, one-half-hour video programs about topics in southwestern residential landscaping, plants materials and landscape best-management practices were produced in ≈800 working hours. The video programs are now telecast weekly, each academic semester, on the regional public television station and the educational channel of several cable television systems. We found that students who enrolled in the course were most likely to tape the programs on a video cassette recorder and watch them at their own convenience, one to three times. A World Wide Web (Web) site on the Internet was developed as a supplement to the video programs. The Web site was organized into a modular format giving students quick access to auxiliary course-related information and helpful resources. When asked, ≈90% of the students indicated that the Web site was a helpful supplement to the video programs. Use of video and Internet technologies in tandem has enabled nonhorticulture major students to learn about home horticulture in an asynchronous or location and time independent fashion.