Western States pipebursting

Simple changes can affect anyone’s life. Whether it’s in your diet, exercise routine or even taking time to de-stress, you will feel better afterward. The same goes for landscaping and using the tips in this article can be the first steps towards fixing the look of your home, starting on the outside.

If you create a garden that is used in all seasons, you will get the most from it. Pick plants that can bloom in every season, depending on your area. To make your yard look interesting throughout the year, you can employ evergreens or trees with unusual foliage.

It is generally a good idea to evaluate the sunlight that is available to you before you start landscaping. This way you can plan what sort of plants will go where so that they receive the optimal amount of sunlight. You don’t want to have plants die because of too…

There are many exits in Montana marked No Services.   I get asked about this by visitors who imagine they know what it is, but have a hard time getting their mind around that a place with no services exists.

It is exactly what you imagine it is is no gas station, no convenience store with food, no bathroom (latrine or flush), no motel, or anything else.   Odds are the place doesn’t even have a post office that you can stop and ask for help.   You know all those standard blue signs you see on the interstate with the universal motorist services, well this exit  has none of that.

Even in the city I suspect that not ever exit off the interstate has services. I suspect some of them are for residential areas without services.   If you live there you know that the Oak Street exit does not have a…

Thunderstorm near Great Falls, Montana…

Early morning, Many Glacier Campground, June 6, 2015

Something is crashing through the willows at the edge of our campsite.  I put down my coffee and stand to see what is making such a racket.  I see three shapes through the bushes, and start to sit down again – just some deer.

Hold on.  That’s no deer.

She lifts her head into the sunlight to get a better look at us.

To my surprise, she doesn’t bolt, but just keeps on browsing while keeping a close eye on her kids.  At one point something startles them and one of the calves makes a run for it. Mama wakes up then, and chases the wanderer around the underbrush until he gets back under control.  She then decides that putting the creek between her and the campers is a good idea.  The smaller calf is not too sure about crossing the stream…

Two weekends ago, my family and I traveled to our cabin in Eastern Idaho. From there, we ventured to the Madison River in Yellowstone National park. Fly fishing among the trails of and markings of grand herds of Bison-whilst being surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery in the world. On our trip back home, we decided to stop at the Legendary Silver Creek on its opening weekend. Though we did not fish-I couldn’t resist capturing the iconic stretch of water.

Madison River-PC: Linda Pfeiffer
Yellowstone National Park
Madison River
Silver Creek
Silver Creek
Silver Creek
Silver Creek

California and other Western states face worst drought in 1,000 years, say Columbia University scientists.

by Haya El Nasser

The United States’ drought-stricken Southwest and Great Plains should brace for the worst and most persistent drought in 1,000 years, according to a report out today by the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

The current extreme drought blanketing California and other parts of the West may be just the beginning. New research suggests that by 2050, the regions may enter the longest and driest period for a millennium — a product of natural weather cycles and man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

“The 21st century projections make [past] megadroughts seem like quaint walks through the Garden of Eden,” said Jason Smerdon, a co-author of the report and a climate scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, part of Columbia’s Earth Institute.

Megadroughts last at least 10 years. Some researchers believe a megadrought contributed to the decline of the…

 When it comes to damaged water lines, pipe connections and sewer lines on your property, finding the best possible solution can be a little tricky… especially when today’s most advanced solutions come in various specialized forms, each ideal for certain types of pipeline damage.

Such is the case for trenchless technologies, which use cured-in-place epoxy Perma-liners to coat and seal cracking, fissures and corrosion to home water systems. How can you determine what solution (directional boring, pipe bursting, sectional point repair…) is right for your exact needs?

To find this information, you can do one of two things: either contact your local Toronto trenchless technology expert and have them inspect your home pipe line damage, or continue reading this article.

General Pipe Lining

For general pipe damage, such as those caused by soil shifting, cracking, penetration or other environmental causes, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining is…

If you have a poorly drained area on your property or one that gets frequent runoff during storms, you may notice that some landscape plants won’t survive long there. Plants and trees all need water to survive, but a lot of them prefer to get it slowly and have soil that is well-drained. Excessive moisture for specific varieties will cause discoloration, defoliation, root rot, and plant death.

If you have an area with slow or poor drainage, rest assured that there are many varieties of plants and trees you could use in your landscape design that grow well in wet areas. There may also be other solutions, such as adjusting the grade to re-route the water or to help the water drain better, building a burm, etc.

How do you tell if a spot is wetter than normal? If it isn’t obvious, test soil drainage with a bucket/hose method.

• Dig a hole…