Scout's Honor

2004 was a good year with a fun crew. We teamed with Dennis Spidel Custom Homes to present a house for the BANI Parade of Homes, we have participated in many parades as both judges and landscaping design/installers. As a participant it is always a bit nerve wracking, lots of self imposed pressure to win and a strong desire to really blow the top off things. As a judge you get a chance to compare yourself to other designers and scrutinize their work. The house we worked on belonged to a great couple who had fairly clear ideas on what they wanted yet sought and appreciated my input.

The log cabin house with forest green trim, heavy black door hardware and contemporary, open interior marries effortlessly with the mix of woodsy decor. The owners Pete and Beth treated our crew like long lost cousins from Miami when we worked the unusual Saturday to complete their project. The mid August day brought temperatures in the 90's and Pete generously kept our beverage cooler full as we installed the sod and finished the beds. We had everyone working there that day which is something I always enjoy. Ten people working hard with precision can sure put a hurt on a property, my own personal version of a HGTV show. Seeing The Millgrove Machine really clicking is a thing of beauty.

This Crooked Lake residence won 1st Place in every category except landscaping, I lost, coming in second by two points, I knew it would be close as Franz did a bang up job on Don Wise's house that year. Of course I think the Franz job was their traditional cookie cutter look nothing exciting. Our job was fresh, full of flowers and small custom touches. Oh well can't win em all, but I still expect too.
Beth and Pete loved the birdhouses I had made to match the house although Pete admonishes me that they should easier to clean out. The custom willow, outdoor shower stall, fence and arbor were designed by me and constructed by a friend of a friend, they still look good six years later.
This lot is the typical lake lot, big on house, tight on distance between houses, strong desire for privacy, low maintenance and wanting to be the prettiest on the block. Both the builder and the home owner were scouts, Eagle Scout's I believe, so when it came time to picking thel house name, "Scout's Honor," was a no-brainer.
The side garden is loaded with perennials, butterfly bushes and roses. Varigated fallopia, pachysandra and a Vanderwolfe Pine are all present in this ever blooming garden. Early morning dew glistens on switch grass as I pop off a few photo's and we begin deadheading, trimming and fertilizing as part of our new maintenance contract, it is nice to be able to care for and nurture something you built.