Past, Present and Future

One of the many reasons I love working in the trades

Don't even know who to thank for the blistering economy but we are sure getting our share.  This reminds me of the boom days seems people are most interested in how soon we can get it done rather than what it costs, lots of new construction and heavy remodels, having fun again. 

Steve lives next door to a job site where we are working, he hand feeds two squirrels who reside in the tree in front of his house.  The squirrel are male and female mates he has been feeding them for about two years, they only eat cashews, pretty sweet to watch.

I have been digging the concrete work that Gregg Richhart at Star Homes has been putting out lately, not afraid of form and curves, makes my job easier.  Don't imagine he is making any friends with the team that does his flatwork.

Straw flowers have always been one of my favorites, color, texture and that great crunchy noise when you touch them, doesn't get much better than that.  Of course having several colors to choose from does not hurt either.

We landscaped this house a few years ago and with the homeowners finishing touches charm abounds. Perennials, hydrangea and summer annuals burst with color making this lakehouse  an inviting spot to chill in summer.  If we get to landscape the new house next door it will be three in a row on Clear Lake.

Another fine Star Homes is well under way.  The homeowner says several natural wells were located on the property, the one I observed running steadily filled the bottom quarter of a 4" drain tile.  This side of Clear Lake has many natural wells that must be channeled into the lake to even make building possible.  Capturing water and making it flow where you want is not always easy often the water reroutes itself and must be dealt with again.

We installed this natural stone staircase several years ago while it has become a tad bit overgrown it is still on of my favorite stair treatments.  It is fun to go by some of the older work we have done and see how it has held up and talk with customers from years ago, beautifying Steuben County one house at a time, hi, ho.

When blue lobelia is growing well it is hard to beat this little jewel of a annual.  When the sun hits it just right it looks nearly florescent, sure is cherry and bright.

Pouring the driveway is generally the last step before landscaping a new house.  I took photos of this house last Thursday and have it on my drawing board right now.  Really I need to quit blogging and get back to drawing and bidding this one today.  Customers really get anxious once the house nears completion especially those living on the lakes and hoping to capitalize on their first summer of fun.

Life is blooming all around, summer in Indiana means flowers and flowers are happiness for me.

Welcome to 2012 Landscaping Season

Transitioning from the Caribbean to northeast Indiana in February is tough, taking measurements outside is a challenge with frequent winds, freezing rain and mud. Fighting the elements trying to keep the paper dry and my self upright while wearing heavy boots, Carhart overalls, stocking cap and thick gloves is not my idea of a good time but a girls got to do what a girls got to do.
My first project this year will contribute to the delightful transformation that has already taken place on a hill over looking Crooked Lake. An outdated lake cottage on a killer piece of dirt has been replaced by this outstanding, modern, cozy retreat. The property has been in a state of neglect for several years so some much needed TLC on the nearly one acre site is long overdue.








Since there is much to do and a lot of ground to cover this project will likely occur in phases. When acquiring a new property it is advantageous if you can live and play there a bit to access your outdoor living needs over the course of time. Of course the most immediate projects such as foundation planting, parking areas, lawn and walkways should be first on your list.

Getting to know your ground whether it is 10,000 square feet or three acres is part of the landscaping adventure and process. This location has some projects that can wait and some that we are planning to fix temporarily for purely aesthetic value. It is not necessary to get it all done at once if you have patience and want to space out your expenditures. Actually we enjoy working on the multiple year projects with our clients as it gives us opportunity to watch our creations develop.
The second house on my list this year is another lake house for a Millgrove Landscaping frequent flyer. The house large and the lot is small so we will need to be especially creative in plant selection and size to nestle this new beauty seamlessly into its surroundings. We have a bit of hardscaping with rock walls, steps and walks to install as well.