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.