Sticks and Stones

Morning Sailors on Lake James

Larry & Charlene like the flagstone patio, walk and stairs we installed last year so much that Larry tore off the second level wood deck and we designed another flagstone patio with  a seating wall and bench.
The old concrete stoop was linked to the patio with snap cut stairs.  Bill and Doug should wrap this one mid next week.  It is going to be sharp.

So much is going on, we are still busy and we have not hit our fall rush yet.  Since we are located in a seasonal resort area many of our customers want any major disruptive work to wait until after they close up their cottages which is around Labor Day.  Additionally builders are pushing now to get in foundations, framing and roofs on any new builds to sustain them with interior work over the winter.  Customers are never happy with snow in a new home. 

Unloading cut bluestone slabs

We are working on Lake James building free stacked glacial retaining walls,  installing drainage tiles, seawall renovation, constructing a stoop, installing a yard and snap cut staircase all before the house is even built.  We are working strictly on the lakeside of the property with our only reference being the stamped concrete pour for the porches.  Once the house is actually up access to the lakeside will be severely restricted on the steep grade.

Large bluestone accents on bottom and smaller bluestone accents on top terrace

We are trying something different with these glacial walls, inserting a bluestone in a pattern on both the
terraces.  The stone matches the steps and porches.

Out on Clear Lake Gary and Cody have been busy this week constructing the fence and arbor that we pre-cut and painted at the shop, actually the customer painted it at our location.  The bluestone slabs that Jon cut will be laid to form a path through the new garden.  We are switching to the east side of the house now adding snap cut steps to the hill and a small retaining wall where we will be planting a specimen evergreen.  This job too should wrap next week.

Jon cutting bluestone slabs

The big Allan Block job on Lake James should also conclude this coming week. We installed soil ahead of Chuck's Concrete (they are poured the drive & walk) we will be boxed out of using any equipment to finish our work due to the tight lot line.  The landscape design of this job reflects the busy lifestyle of the homeowners with easy care plants, stone and weed barrier top dressing and small but functional beds.

40 Hours

Best Overall Home Show

As the valley girls say I am totally stoked to have hired our new employee, Doug Brown.  Doug is 37 and has spent nearly all his working hours in the landscape business, he hails from nearby Ohio, spent several years working in Florida and the last few years in the Indianapolis area.  He claims to understand all phases of both the green side and hardscape side of the business spending many years as as supervisor/installer.  Welcome aboard Doug, I can hardly wait for the week to begin.

Another bright spot, Jessica returned to work this week having seen five doctors in four facilities with a final diagnosis of sinusitis which was treated with antibiotics making her feel nearly immediately better, go figure.  There is no doubt in my mind it all started with  heat stroke.  Glad to have her back.  With a small company each person plays such an important role.

We jazzed up this bed by adding the dry streambed

Rejoice we are not supposed to hit the high 90's this week and will actually start the week around 83 degrees.  This is especially important as I have been trying to get Jane and Craig's paver sealing job finished but it has either been too hot to use the product.  In fact I had trouble when I applied the wet look sealer when it was hot it got tacky and dried milky now I have to thin that with a resealer product.
Not every day goes as planned.

Home Show Lake Side

This past week end and next is the local builders association Home Show where people are encouraged to visit newly constructed homes which have been professionally  judged for best builder, best  interior design, best landscaping and best overall house.  We unwittingly participated in this years Show ultimately landscaping the house that was judged number one in all categories except landscaping which placed third.  We actually started the job last fall and finished it in May.  Because of the 50/50 rule employed by our county your total hard surfaces (house, concrete driveway, sidewalks) can not exceed 50 percent of the total square foot of your lot.  The house alone nearly exceeded the rule which meant huge restrictions when it came to hardscape.  Surfice it to say I was surprised we got third place and if memory serves me this is the first, first place finish for Jim Ingledue Construction, special congratulations to Ms. Chris Evans.

Home Show Road Side

Lots of projects for this coming week.  Finishing up our rare commercial project at Lakeland Nursing Home and bidding another the up coming new Northeastern Center are on the to do list.  We should also wrap up the job Bill and Ryan are working at Lake James, finish a short clean up and renovation Theresa started last week, replace all landscaping at the Miller house on Clear Lake, seal the pavers, and start three decent size installations, no wonder I can't sleep more than six hours a night.

Home Show Lake View

Funny thing Doug talked to other local landscapers and no one felt comfortable hiring him as they were all a bit slow, we are really fortunate to be so steady.

Ash Tree Chainsaw Massacre

The heat continues, drought endures although we had an inch or two of rain during the past week.  We are losing hours and workers as we have been coming in early and barely are able to get in a scorching 40 hours per week.  Our freshman female worker sweet Jessica has been out for over a week with heat stroke and dehydration as the diagnosis, she has been to her family doctor, the local hospital and Urgent Care but continues with vomiting and fever.  All manner of tests and pills yet she feels no better.  It is on to the big city hospital in the morning for her.

What to do with dead ash trees killed by the emerald ash borer, the city of Fremont, IN has the solution turn them into wood sculpture?  Several of the trees were cleverly carved by a local chainsaw artist, bears, raccoons and squirrels are playing on the once ugly stumps.  Sweet.

Last week was cooler and we did get in a full week.  We were still short Jessica and Theresa was gone a couple of days, this week will be the last for Rick as he will be going back to college.  I hired a young man whose father is an excavator we know his name is Cody his dad says he had a bottle in one hand and a shovel in the other for as long as he can remember so I have high hopes for the kid.

We are wrapping up the odd commercial job a nursing home in Angola where Bruce has been in charge, he did manage to find a spot for one of our signature rock walls.  His biggest concern has been watering and for the last three week ends he has been going to town to water the new plants.  Soaker hose and timers have been installed and the maintenance men at the nursing home will be taking over the watering chores this week.

The landscaping around this small block wall belongs to Mike Stuckey at M & C Trenching, Mike and Cheryl's son is getting married and they are sprucing up their yard.  The wall was already there and they had a couple of deceased ash tree that were removed last year.  Mike reworked the wall and I designed the new look while he and his crew installed it with a little help from us. 

I traded Mike for the use of his mini excavator for a day and Bruce P dug a retention pond at our property to handle overflow rain water and pick up ground water and divert it from the retaining wall next to our house.  You can see the heavy clay soil that will hold the water, our soil is a mix of clay, sand, gravel spots and the rare loam all on 25 acres.

Carlos Santana Live

Our summer concert schedule included Carlos Santana at the Toledo, OH Zoo an intimate venue where every seat is great.  Spiritual Carlos entertained the audience holding those long notes and encouraging us to be what we wanted and love one another.  Everyone should see Santana at least once, it is a memorable experience.

Rocking in the Heat

A rare occurrence has taken place we did not work the crew from July 4 to July 9th and it was a great decision because it was still smoking outside with record temperatures over 106 degrees.  Our region has had a record number of triple digit days, crops are suffering, we have stopped applying fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides for those without irrigation. Lawns are crunchy dormant with no relief in sight.  But the beat or heat  goes on.........and we progress with the next jobs.

This job on Clear Lake is nearly finished and we have installed another Millgrove first, an old fashioned lake driveway with a modern day twist of pavers.  I have advised the customers that a slow and steady approach will be the best way to assure safe parking.

Placement of a 4" October Glory Maple on the right corner of the property serves to pull the earth closer to the high roof peaks.  The tree certainly makes a statement.  Likewise the the European Hornbeam on the lakeside corner of the house both grounds the corner and the low branching fills the space to the ground providing a great visual barrier between the neighboring deck levels. Intimate property lines often mean creative planting strategies are necessary fortunately we are blessed with a wonderful variety of hardy plant species and shapes.

Our next big project is well underway on Lake James (which has receded 8' )  our first shipment of 8 pallets of Allen Block Ashlar Hickory blend block is being installed as I write, well not all at once but we will need our second shipment by Monday.

We had lots of great excavation help from Dan Eyester Excavation and John Day,  John really cowboy ed up climbing a hill of loose soil in the mini sending everyone scurrying as he precipitously rocked and teetered nearly rolling  down the hill.  Having a mini excavator, a big back hoe and our tractor really greased the wheels on this project.

Before our arrival Dan and John applied the
 engineered solution to solve the soggy yard that plagued the customer lakeside.  Tile, soil stabilization fabric and fresh dirt raise the yard and the new swales offer direction for surface water should it ever rain.  Dan, John and crews did a swell job on the lawn all we had to do was a light rake and we were ready for seed.

Jimmy Buffett Live 2012

It has been two years since I went to a Jimmy Buffett concert and it looks like I will be able to see him twice this summer.  I shot this video when Bruce and I went to Tinsley Park, IL, just sout of Chicago Saturday night.  Jimmy was hot...hot...hot and so was the temperature in the mid 90's.  We had a good time but a rough ride home as we figured to just pick up a hotel room on the way home and found every hotel we stopped at the first 50 miles or so to be sold out.  We drove on home and got there around 4:30 am having to drive slowly through dense fog the last few miles.  Fins Up, enjoy one of Jimmy's signature Parrotthead songs.

The Way We Do The Things We Do

We are more than one third through the season and each week brings new challenges and accomplishments.  Actually we wrapped three jobs this week one that I sold but never even had time to see installed so I will try and get to that job next week for photographs.  One of the highlights of my week was taking pictures of the great Amaryllis collection next door to a job we were working.  There are doubles, singles and variegated blooms that take your breath with their beauty.

Our weather is still a crazy hot streak and we officially have been in draught for three weeks.  Lawns without irrigation are completely burned out .  Several grass fires have kept local fire departments busy and there is currently a no burn ordinance in much of our state.


The tune featured here is from UB40 a British group that I love, they do a lot of cover songs and I think they often perform them better than the original versions.

Mobile Nursery

Theresa was the first to notice the chirping under the side rails on our truck 101.  Turns out a tiny wren had built a nest in a most unusual location and we could not get the nest out.  Mother bird goes in and out in less than a 1/2" opening.  You need to listen carefully to hear them singing.  We kept the truck back at the shop hoping for a happy ending but I fear that has alluded us.

The Merger

We are well underway with work  at an old friends new house on Clear Lake and I am fortunate enough to be given creative license on the project.   What was actually an error in ordering pavers turned into  much needed additional patio space by adding just a little over 45 square feet where we merged the paver walk from the lake, patio and snap cut stairs with the porch entrance.  I am certain everyone will enjoy the extra space and I suspect occasionally they might use the portable grill on the lower patio.

The top patio will feature a full circle nearly nine feet in diameter.  This system is Paverlock and is manufactured in Cincinnati, OH our local distributor is in Kendallville, IN which is about 30 minutes south.  We are  still installing block and pavers made at the Reading Rock plant more than any of the other lines we represent.  They have a solid product line and middle of the road pricing. We enjoy supporting the smaller operations and companies.

The landscaping installation around a customers garage is complete although we are waiting on approval from the local landscaping ordinance inspector, we may need to install two trees to be in compliance.  Installing the trees is not a problem but the fact that no irrigation exists and our client is not always able to water makes success tentative.

On Jimmerson Lake we finished the hardscape and installed all the large trees and plants.  The natural stone walkways and fine beach area make this landscaping a sure winner.  We are waiting on the irrigator (or as one customer says irritator) then we will be able to complete the installation.  Hopefully that will be part of our schedule this week.  The customers are anxious.

Poodle Crazy

This week was scolding hot on Monday (Memorial Day) and Tuesday, over 90 degrees the high yesterday barely reached 50 with steady wind and drizzle.  Walking the dogs I spied this red wing blackbird singing  despite the crummy weather.

Our customer on Jimmerson Lake was happy to see the delivery of the green material after being in the house for a few weeks with no yard or landscaping.  We nearly have all the hard scape finished;  snap cut stairs, natural stone steppers, tiling the downspouts out the lake and building the seating wall and beach.  I think the beach will be a big hit.

Jamie and home owner Renee first clean then plant a mugo pine.

Theresa is lost in the foliage of a Japanese Maple while unloading the box truck.


Two sisters share the responsibility for choosing the plant material with my guidance.  The man of the house enjoys trimming so this installation has more specimen plants than we normally use.  We have not put in three ball poodles since we did Caruso's restaurant a few years ago, I like them.  It is a win win situation providing the  minimal look they want with clean simplicity.

A couple of the other jobs we recently finished are looking fine.  The lawn is filling in between the flagstone pieces of the walk on Crooked Lake, they have mowed the grass several times.

Another job on Crooked Lake got a new look when Colby Claus installed the new fire pit top and grill top.  We all love the new look.

A New Beach



Friday Night Sky

 Installing drain tile is not one of the glamorous parts of landscaping but it is often the starting point with Bruce P on board and the support of Mike from M & C Trenching we are tackling more of tile installations ourselves.  Our little John Deere with its small back hoe is how we began this project but when the Deere blew a hydraulic line we rented a J.D. mini excavator which made short work of the digging.  I think Bruce was secretly glad that our tractor was out of commission since the mini works so much better.

Once Bruce got the tile work out of the way we began the hard scape much to the delight of the homeowners.  Starting at the lake Bill and Robert built this swell seating wall, we will install some nice sand for the beach next week.

Working overtime on Friday was necessary to complete the four foot snap cut staircase.  A natural landing about mid way will provide an opportunity for rest or reflection.  The color of the stairs is a great compliment to the stonework on the house.

The red log cabin is 98% complete and it really looks sweet.  The pergola, flagstone patios, porches, landscaping, benches and fire pit are a tribute to the skills and craftsmanship of team Millgrove.  My ideas and the customer goals are just lines on a paper until the crews bring them to life, thanks everyone for your attention to detail and desire to be the best.

Sandhill Cranes Cruising with Colt

Coming across these sandhill cranes made my day.  One of the better parts of living here is the ability to commune with nature.

Flagstone Shake Up

Looks like I will need to update this years company photo already as three of our five new employees are already history and today I hired two new ones.  My working life would certainly be easier if I had an adequate number of trained workers but as usual we manage to get by.  I honestly think this year we could have twenty employees if I had an operations manager other than myself.  So far there appears to be a lot of work including several new homes the economy is picking up in Steuben County, IN.



We finished up Scott's project and Gary and Bruce P did an excellent job Scott  is thrilled.   He is having a bit of a gathering this weekend and I am sure his friends will all be wild about his renovated digs.  Along with the landscaping update he has freshly painted the interior when the wooden decks are stained the transformation will be complete.   Enlarging the photo's will provide a clearer view of the transformation. Gator dust replaces the old loose and dangerous pea stone providing a grout like seal that is beautiful and durable.  The 6" Chilton stone curb makes a solid transition to the new crushed granite driveway.





Our project on Lake George is coming along nicely.  The little red, log cabin is settling into the new hardscape with flair.  The arbor is complete as is the lakeside patio.  Ryan and crew should be esepecially proud of the custom stone benches.  His artisian side is definitely showing, what a great feeling when you hit one out of the park.  The benches are sitting on four hand selected native glacial boulders.  We hope to button this one up next week.



On the Job Again 17 Years Later

This is Scott he lives on a lake south of us about 45 minutes we landscaped his lake house the first time 17 years ago.  Last fall we renovated his mother Virginia's house in Fort Wayne while we nearly never go that far we did it as a special favor to Scott.  Virginia was a hoot and it was good to see Scott again.  We are removing the old limestone driveway and installing crushed granite which is more colorful and tighter packing.  In addition we are kicking up the entrance redoing the flagstone and curbing.  Some trimming odds and ends spruce up and a whole new feeling will be achieved.





Ryan cuts one of the benches

The week flew by and judging from my camera pictorial I was all over the place. Several stops with potential new customers.  On site job visits, chasing materials, drawing, bidding and delivering quotes all in a weeks work.  An interesting development is that we may potentially be landscaping three homes that will be entered in the annual county Parade of Homes where builders and sub contractors compete for the best landscaping, building and interior decorating awards.  Once in the 90's we had three homes in the Parade and came in 1st, 2nd and 7th (last).  We are already working on one home that is entered.

Great progress at the red cabin;  bench tops cut, pergola mostly up lakeside patio walk and stoop are nearly complete.  Ryan has done an excellent job working with the new sheets of sandstone  his planning, handling, cutting and craftsmanship on the stone belies his youth and experience ( I hope he does not see this and want a raise).  Actually I would love to give big raises all around the crew deserves it but I can only squeeze so much out of a buck and stay in business.  One down side of working for a small company is a finite pay scale.





Greg chiseling  the  rock sides of the stoop

Mike measures the rafters for the pergola

2012 Millgrove Landscaping Team

The 2012 Millgrove Landscaping Team (from left) Jessica Pike, Yours Truly with Finn & Munch, Gary Baker, Mike Brown, Theresa Davis, Bruce Etter, (back row) Bonnie Mitchell, Mary  Walt, Ryan Bartell, Corey Oakley, Bruce Pardue, Bill Asher and Greg Thomas (Robert Beard is absent) go team onto another great season.