Auburn Concrete

This week will mark the end of the first third of the landscape season and it has been hectic, of course spring always is our busiest time of year. We are actually still working two jobs that we started last year Trish and Doug's and technically Jane and Craig's, although all we did for them last year was transplant some of their shrubs and perennials. We just re-installed one of the boxwood's from last year and will be putting all the rest of their saved plants to good use this week.

Finally this week I was ready to order the custom concrete counter top for the grill surround at Jane and Craig's. Initially I was going to be ordering through Masolite but they turned me on directly to Auburn Concrete where I met second generation concrete fabricator Todd Stayer. Todd took me through the shop and explained their capabilities. His passion for the new technology evident as he tells me about the various combinations he is working on including incorporating everything from beer bottles to blue wine bottle glass.

We chose something a bit more traditional but darker than I had anticipated. Initially I thought to match the sandstone color of the full nose in the grill surround. In a quick couple of minutes Todd had convinced me that the sandstone color would appear washed out once it was polished and sealed. The darker brown really stood out but without dominating or becoming the focal point, I took a sample to Jane and Craig and they agreed to the darker color. Craig thought it was granite. In one week we should be installing the new custom counter top.

Out on Clear Lake Patty G planted another 3000 hardwood trees on her second five acre plot. The trees will be her legacy and one day a small woods for all to enjoy, complete with lovely wildflower and native grasses. Bruce Pardue spent a day leveling between the rows of saplings using our Big Deere and TR3 plow to smooth the soil and prepare a seed bed for no mow grass which will be planted this fall. Patty's other plot of trees is now 3 years old and are doing well.

We are finishing up the stone curbing, river wash top dress and rebuilding a small stone wall along the island at the log home in the country. Pop up storms dumped about an inch of rain during the week but it would rain cats and dogs for ten minutes every two or three hours, we managed to sit it out and keep working. Made for some slippery ground when we got out to work again.

In addition to the fence installation we planted a few shrubs at Jane and Craig's. Their driveway goes in next week along with the irrigation. I plan on wrapping things up on both these jobs before the 4Th of July.