Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Loving Florida Landscaping

Came upon this jewel while sizing up what the NY state customer said was a lot that needed mowing.  The lot owner said the city had contacted him and he was required to keep his "native" lot  12" or under with grass,he wanted our bid to mow the lot.  One look was all it took, this way no ordinary mowing, take a look and you be the judge, would you take your garden tractor through this?
Customer Has Planted Sabal Palms By Seed

Where Are You Baby Sables?
It has been a busy month but the main reason I have not been blogging is computer error, I was being inundated with advertisements, could only use Firefox and seemed to have a great amount of trouble getting internet explorer to upload pictures (still true) but so far tonight is smooth sailing.
Two Magnolias?
These folks wanted a price to remove the two magnolias next to their pool cage, I have looked at multiple magnolia and live oak removals in the short two months I have been working, seems both are trees home owner either love or hate.  Personally I think both are magnificent but to often the wrong plant wrong place.  The glossy leaves , spectacular bloom and sweet fragrance of the magnolia are a small price for the leaf and flower litter.
Went to the Florida Nursery Landscaping Association trade show in Orlando last week, lots of greenery a bit of equipment but not much hardscape (pavers, walls, etc.,) this bad boy had it all in the looks department but seemed more like a match box toy then a workhorse, and whooee what a price tag.

A Dingo Stole My Baby, Give Me a Dingo Any Old Day That Is a Workhorse!
Bidding a job in a good neighbor hood now, this should be a lucky omen.  Sales are going well and I am getting ready to start a good size job in the next few days.  It is a job that I plan on tracking on this blog.
The next sold job is the house below we are putting in a new wider paver sidewalk and a small dry stream bed, a great technique for a fresh new look and very low maintenance.  I will post after pictures when we are completed.
Freshly Painted, Soon New Landscaping
My first experience with fig vine and the ever invasive wedelia perennial which morphs into a vine if you do not prune it properly, this customer reports trying to kill the fig vine several times over the years.  Once you remove the vine it is necessary to scrape it off the house and pressure wash or as they say in St. Lucia, "bust out the water blaster."

This job features a sweet little courtyard I hope to bring back to life.  The homeowner is originally from my hometown Fort Wayne, IN grew up in the same neighborhood as my husband, small world.

These folks have a old fountain that has not been in use my plan includes turning it into a planter, probably have done at least half a dozen over the years but this is my first in FL.

Can You Say Paperwork?This is the paperwork associated with one bid, separate folders for each quote: irrigation, landscaping, pavilion, pavers, seating walls and landscaping.